Not A Stepford Wife

A typical text tryst with BN

2012-02-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Me: Three hours and counting. :o)

Me: Oops that was supposed to go to Pogo.

BN: Geek alert

Me: Takes one to know one.

BN: Your mama

Me: Yours.

~R

Homeschooler's Valentine's Day

2012-02-17T09:36:00.001-05:00

It's true. We homeschooler's don't all avoid the holidays.

As I said before this is RePete's first Valentine's card exchange and probably his last since he'll be 9 next year and too cool for such things. Everyone seemed to enjoy the exchange. Several children, including my own, kept checking their bags to see how it was going. Oh the anticipation.

Ignore the blobs on the photos. I had to blur out other children.

~R

Extreme Photography

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

I may need a new hobby.

Tuesday before last, the moon was gorgeous. Low in the horizon, slight orange tint. Gorgeous!

So, I put on the telephoto glass, extended my tripod out fully and proceed to walk down the first set of steps on our deck for a better vantage point.

I missed the last step. Rolled my right ankle over my toes. Not to the side. Of course, if I am going to sprain my ankle, it has to be the weirdest type of sprain. I won't have it any other way.

Good news is that it was just a bad sprain, no breaks.

Greater news is that I saved my camera. Probably made my fall worse.

Bad news is that I missed a killer shot.

Sweets from my Sweetie

2012-02-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

I love that BN always gets me two cards at Valentine's Day. One is funny and one is serious. And he writes which is which on the envelope.

I love that even though year after year, I assure him that I will be just fine without flowers, he still sends them to me.

I love that this year, the note with the flowers said we have reserved seats to see Wicked!!!!

I can't wait.

~R

Valentines

2012-02-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

RePete has never been to school. Ever. Not even preschool. A couple of years ago, I had a Valentines party at our home and our kids exchanged goodies. But he's never experienced the thrill of getting a bag full of Valentines from twenty-something of his closest friends. *snicker* Not that his life would have a void if he never did, but it's a fun thing and I wanted him to experience it.

AND this may be the last year RePete is not too cool to exchange Valentines with his friends, so I took the initiative and set up a craft table at our co-op today to help him grow out of it with style.

And I did it on crutches. (different story for another time)

I bought several sets of different colored bags, markers and lots and (I thought) lots of stickers. Do you know how hard it is to find Valentine stickers that boys don't think are too "girly"? But we made do.

I spent about $30 on stickers. I thought it was a lot of stickers. I forgot how much girls like stickers.

I'm used to my boys. One or two stickers, their name and they're done. The girls spent lots of time at my table today. Everything was perfectly decorated and coordinated and beautiful. Luckily, the foam stickers held out until the very last crafter, but next time I work a craft table, I'll know to bring more. Much more.

I think we ended up with close to 30 kids who made bags that will be used to collect Valentines from their buddies next week.

I can't wait and I need to remember to take a picture.

~R

I love knitting videos

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

I do, I really do. I feel so inspired when I watch them and each knitter has his or her own special little techniques that I like to borrow. Most of the time the video itself doesn't do much for me, but the little details...how this person binds off or how that person carries her yarn, that's where it's at.

My newest favorite is verypink.com . I've learned a lot from her videos and even more from her website. My next project will be purchasing her easter basket pattern and making them for my boys and my sisters'. So cute. And felted!

~R

I'm a simple gal

2012-02-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

for the most part. I don't need or particularly like fancy things.

So when I recently decided to up the ante on my knitting, I pulled out an intermediate level sock pattern which happens to be called Ribbed Lace. It's in Charlene Schurch's book Sensational Knitted Socks.

But as I started the stitches and saw holes, I realized these socks just would not do. Holes in socks? I mean really. Why bother wearing socks for warmth if they are laced with holes? So, I pulled out all the stitches and started over with a simple basket weave. Still intermediate level.

I likey much better.

And the color...Matador by Felici at Knit Picks. Oh my. Can't wait to wear these. They actually remind me of the scene in The Birdcage* when they try to play off Albert as the straight uncle. He walks in wearing a dark suit and sits down. When he crosses his leg... a flash of pink from his socks! Classic.

~R

* my favorite movie

DeerKid Path

2012-02-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

The deer and the kids made this path in our backyard. I like to stand in this spot in the morning before the kids come outside. The birds are really busy and they let me observe their morning routines.

Christmas Stockings

2012-02-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

My sister asked for one thing for her birthday, a stocking for the baby.
Apparently, many years ago, I made one for my nephew who is now 17. I have absolutely no recollection of making a stocking except for the detail of the “T” hanging off the end of the cuff. That rings a bell. The rest..not so much.
His was crocheted. I’ve all but forgotten how to crochet anything more complicated than single and double stitches. Seeing a picture of the old stocking does nothing for my memory, so the baby’s stocking had to be knitted. I waffled back and forth on designs and after several false starts decided on a simple pattern of my own design. The yarn in my stash played a part in that decision as well. I wish I had had more of the green.
So I knitted and knitted and finally came up with this.

But because the yarn I used wasn’t that thick and I used a bigger needle to knit this, I decided to try felting. As is, the stocking is limp and holey, although I think the lettering turned out nicely.
Here is my first ever attempt at felting.

This phone pic does not do it justice. The picture is blurry due to low lighting, but the stocking is fuzzy. The lettering is not quite as nice as before the felting process, but the stocking has weight to it and feels more like it can handle all the Christmas goodies my sister will place in it next year.
And hopefully, it’ll last as long as his big brother’s has lasted.
~R

Family Photos

2012-01-12T20:10:00.001-05:00

I love our photo sessions. I take all of our pictures using a remote and sometimes my remote can be temperamental. These were the “mess ups” and I love them the best.

Well that was fun.

2011-12-18T21:25:00.001-05:00

If anyone saw the Hello Lover post, just ignore it. I just found out I can post to my blog without ever going to my blog. During the setup, it pulled the first photo from my pile, I typed the first thing that I thought when I saw BN’s beautiful face and voila, a post popped up.

WTH, right?

I am so fed up with Elements 9.0’s organizer that I almost cried. Yup. It’s that frustrating. Makes my computer very slow. Shuts down for no reason. And on and on. I looked to see if there were any issues and there were plenty. Most folks just said they loved the editing part of E9.0 but just ignored the Organizer portion.

Problem is I need an organizer. I loved Bridge but I have that on my Mac and I can’t use it on my Windows. So, I decided to use Windows Live Photo Gallery. After looking at it, it does all the same stuff as the Elements Organizer and I think, more. But most importantly, I can find my way around it. It doesn’t shut down in the middle of a job and it doesn’t make me cry. Big bonus.

In the process of getting all excited about no longer spending my photo time crying, I saw that it will be super easy to post pics to Facebook for my family, upload videos for my son on his YouTube account, and blog. In fact, I’m blogging right now from my Windows Live Writer. Love that.

At least, I do right now. All this technology is giving me a headache and making me want to ball up in the fetal position for about three days.

Get ready for the wonder of it all.

The OJ Experiment

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

RePete saw the commercial about orange juice where they show a straw in an orange (as if the juice in the container is so fresh that it is like drinking straight from the orange).

Experiment: He wanted to try it. Pete too.

Outcome: RePete got a tiny drop or two of juice and Pete got pulp.
Lesson: Don't believe everything you see on television.

~R

Our future

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

BN and I feel stuck. We want to live in/near the mountains, but in this world we have to have a good job. His is here in Hampton Roads.

So we dreamweave about the day he retires or we spontaneously become independently wealthy. We both see the same piece of land in our future and until this past weekend, we didn't have a picture. In our perfect dream, we see a house on a hill, a pond or other water source nearby and mountains in the backdrop.

As part of my researching for mom on genealogy, I came across another member of our family in a different branch that posted a picture of my great-great-grandfather's homestead as it looks today. When I saw it, I immediately showed it to BN to which he replied, "Is it for sale?"

That land and our house plans...dreamy.

~R

Grammartastic

2011-12-13T13:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, as Pete was reading his grammar assignment, he asked,

"Mom, what does semile and metoffer mean?" ( I used these spellings to try and show the sounds he used. Syllable emphasis on "mile" and "off")

I cracked up laughing. He started laughing because I was laughing and then I explained the correct pronunciation.

He was asking about similes and metaphors.

~R

The Nutcracker Ballet

2011-12-08T20:09:00.001-05:00

I should have known better about buying tickets for a ballet in little old Suffolk, but I thought, hey, I'll give it a try. Our town converted the old downtown high school into a cultural arts center. There have been numerous events, ballets, productions, etc and this is the first time I've bought tickets. It's a beautiful building and I love old architecture like this.

What made it such a flop for me is that there were no props. The last Nutcracker ballet BN and I saw was so beautiful and elaborate. You could spend the entire show looking at the scenery and props and never need to actually watch anyone dance. It was that good.

The ballet in Suffolk? Well, I think they did a fine job with the dancing although a few of them looked less than thrilled to be there. The top performers for me were the two guys. Men ballerinas or whatever they are called really are fun to watch because they are so strong and tend to do the most fantastical things. The "Nutcracker" guy, however, had on white tights and after the show, Pete said they should not wear pants like that. He could see the guy's butt in detail.

He was right. It was slightly obscene.

Here's what I heard the entire time:

BN: ( I heard nothing...he kept dozing off)
Pete: How much longer is this thing?
Repete: I'm starving and I'm sooo bored. (several octaves too loudly)
Me: (to myself) Damn, this really is lame. I can't stop staring at the nutcracker's nuts. I can't believe I paid $80 for this. Those white pants are too revealing, I wonder what the boys are thinking. I'll never be able to get the kids to agree to a ballet again.

~R

I finally saw it.

2011-12-03T21:19:00.001-05:00

Twilight, that is. My sister had a free night and needed to take her son to meet his date at the movies, so we decided to double date with them. The fact that we couldn't go in together or watch the same movie didn't bother us one little bit.

And I learned a valuable lesson: never chew wintergreen gum at the movies during a quiet scene.

I don't know how it happened but the theater was so quiet and I switched from popcorn to gum during the scene where Bella is laboring and Jacob is in shock at her "death". I stopped chewing - because it was so quiet in there I could hear myself chewing even with my mouth shut - and then it happened.

Somehow, wintergreen infused saliva slid down the back of my throat and into my windpipe. I had to cough but it was so dang quiet in there, I tried not to. The force of trying to hold that cough in made me pee my pants just a little (my bladder will never be the same after my 9 and 10 pound babies), so I tried to get enough breath to tell my sister I was leaving my purse and needed to go to the bathroom. She, a nurse, was poised and ready to perform the Heimlich or CPR or something drastic and I put up my hand - like hold up a minute, I'm fine really - and my eyes were starting to water at this point and I was walking down the steps and across the aisle to the lobby exit.

A couple in front of me held open the door and I'm sure because of my tear stained eyes and slight convulsive-type heaving (still trying to be quiet and not wet my pants), they probably thought I was all choked up over Bella "dying".

Finally, I make it to a stall and pee, cough, pee, cough, etc. Cough a few extra times as I wash my hands and then make my way back to the theater hoping I didn't miss Jacob shirtless or anything.

And that's how I learned to never chew wintergreen gum at the movies.

~R

Success!

2011-12-01T16:19:00.001-05:00

The boys took their ornaments to the craft show today at our co-op and sold out!

They raised $31 to give to our local food bank.

I was going to take pictures, but forgot my phone and my camera is out for repairs. But the display was nice if I must say so myself. *pat pat*

Our friends are so generous with their time and money and I love that the boys decided to give to others.

Here is the poster Pete and RePete created that I framed for the table display.

How crappy is that picture taken on the webcam. Anyway, the drawings are beautiful. Great job to my boys!

~R

And that's the end of that.

2011-11-30T19:44:00.001-05:00

NaBloPoMo, that is.

I've decided I bore easily.

~R

Deer Poop

2011-11-29T18:12:00.001-05:00

You know you are a homeschooler when...

Three days ago, BN walked out front and came back in saying that the deer ate all my roses again and pooped on our walkway.

For whatever reason, nobody cleaned up the doo. And then it just became a curiosity.

The boys and I have been examining the poop every day since. First, the flies came. Then the slug. Then the rain.

Now there's nothing left but grasses of some sort.

I was certain I'd find roses.

~R

Banned! D=78

2011-11-28T15:15:00.001-05:00

I've banned myself from the genealogy sites until after the holidays. I was on the computer ALL DAY yesterday. I mean ALL DAY. It was fun and the discovery was awesome but oh my goodness what in the world?

Anyway, a year's subscription to one of the popular sites was my gift to my mom along with helping her do the research and scan in photos and keep backups of what we find. So good luck, Mom. I'll come back around after the new year begins...or later this evening. Whichever.

In other news I have decided that we can never take another week off from school. In fact, maybe we need to go at it 7 days a week. Every time we take a break, it gets harder and harder to get back to the grind.

So much so that I am seriously considering finding an online school so someone else can teach and I can just monitor the progress. Or maybe I just need meds. Whichever.

~R

Genealogy

2011-11-27T21:33:00.001-05:00

is a huge time suck. But I just can't stop.

At least I found the perfect gift for my mother.

~R

I think I am done shopping

2011-11-26T00:07:00.000-05:00

I did it mostly online. Now I just have to wait for the boxes to arrive so I can wrap it all. Love the internet.

Started looking at genealogy stuff tonight. Four hours later, I have a few things I didn't before. Love the internet.

~R

The Tree is Up

2011-11-25T22:34:00.001-05:00

as usual. We always put it up the day after Thanksgiving or soon thereafter if we are traveling. I'm not even sure why, but my mom always did, so now I do.

But it was delayed because after getting the durn thing put together and fluffing all the fake branches, I found out several strands of lights were out. BN was able to get them to come on but was worried about the wiring maybe being loose and causing a fire, so down it came and off to BJs we went.

Now it's up and decorated but the rest of my house is a disaster area. I had planned to do the trimming and get the house clean... oh well, it's only Friday... got plenty of time.

I thought about going out in the madness that is Black Friday, not because I need to buy any special deals but because I like being out in that mess. Call me crazy, but I like it. Although sitting here now, feeling tired from what little I did do today, I'm really glad I no longer BF.

~R

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

(post dated)

We are at BN's parents today. So looking forward to the wonderful company and food. Hoping to also get away for a few minutes to visit at my mom's for a bit too. Or better yet, hoping they will all come over to the inlaws and visit for a while.

~R

Ever feel like this

2011-11-23T19:59:00.001-05:00

Me, 6, I think

first thing in the morning? If I have to get up early one more time, I don't think I'll actually make it out of bed.

I've had a crazy past four days. Not enough sleep.

I love that when I cover my hair on the sides of this picture, I see my boys at about the same age.

My mom used to take pictures of us on Christmas morning right after we woke up. I like to do that to my boys now.

~R

Nablo # 22

2011-11-22T20:35:00.001-05:00

Yes, that is the best I can do.

I really need to get hopping on the Christmas ornaments the boys and I are making. Our homeschool co-op has started a craft fair once a month and for a small donation (determined by the seller), we can have a table to sell wares.

I thought about selling something myself but everything I make is so laborious. Take my socks that I knit. I would have to charge about $100 per pair based on the hours of labor. What?? I'm a slow knitter...but a good one. :o) At a very minimum, they would cost $10 just to cover the yarn. So not worth it.

My soap takes time to cure and that requires pre-planning. Not so good with that these days.

I'm just not in the mood to mass produce anything right now, so I decided not to make anything.

Until the fair in October happened.

Someone set paper and markers out on a table for the kids to draw and one of them got the idea to sell their artwork (just like the adults). RePete drew and sold three works of art. He made 45 cents.

And the fever set in.

Now both boys want to have something to sell so I decided to help them make the ornaments my mom taught us to make. They are having fun and I plan to really dress up the table for them. Pictures to come since our sale won't be until December 1st.

~R

Baby Lessons

2011-11-21T20:21:00.001-05:00

Having a baby in the house will teach many things.

First, I really need to dust.

Secondly, my iPhone is way too slow to ever catch him.

Sock Monkey

2011-11-20T08:33:00.000-05:00

beginnings...

Backdate...backdate

2011-11-19T16:02:00.000-05:00

Sometimes life just gets in the way. My day didn't quite go as planned but I got to
see my mom and favorite nephew so alls well that ends well.

And my techno skills are improving I think; I'm writing this from my phone. We'll see what happens.

~R

The Rope Lost Files

2011-11-18T10:39:00.001-05:00

I may or may not have enjoyed the rope swing myself.

2011-11-17T20:58:00.001-05:00

Our boys had a music recital today. Our co-op meets at a local church and the recital was held in the sanctuary. During a lull, in front of God and everyone, RePete looked up at the stained glass and said, "Jesus looks lovely in that glass."

All heads turned to see Jesus hanging on the cross. Ahem.

~R

The Dreaded 28 Foot Rope

2011-11-16T16:01:00.001-05:00

My husband is a Crossfitter. He LOVES Crossfitting. One of the items used in their workouts is the rope. So he bought one and he somehow managed to get that rope thrown over and tied to a branch twenty-eight feet in the air.

And then he climbed it.

Then our darling boys took over.

For some reason swinging causes them to open their mouths.

But it is not the swing or the open mouths or the loads of fun they are having that causes me pain. It's the dust. All of that dirt beneath the big tree gets kicked up and rolled in and brought into our house.

If I weren't afraid of heights, I'd chop that thing down.

I just noticed the difference in the trees from a couple of weeks ago to now. Wow.

Sock Monkeys Posting Ropes

2011-11-15T12:13:00.000-05:00

My kids want these now. And they want me to make them. Two more uncompleted projects to-be.
***************
As for yesterday, I'm backdating again. I figure if folks can write multiple posts and postdate them, then I should be able to write multiple posts and backdate them. Yes?!
****************
Tomorrow, after I take pictures today, I'll explain why a 28 foot rope is my nemesis.

~R

Sewing

2011-11-14T12:46:00.001-05:00

I've decided I need a new hobby. I have so many half finished projects, I figured adding a few more won't hurt a thing, except the already crowded spaces in my house.

Ever since I bought and made this pattern, the company I purchased it from has been sending me emails showcasing awesome fabrics. (I bought these fabrics from a local fabric store.)

I am a sucker for pretty things and fabrics are one of my favorites. I have a piece of toile that I've had for about 8 years now. I found it at the Design Center in Washington, DC when I was studying interior design and used it in one of my projects.

Anyway, (D=47*), I found this at Fat Quarters online a few weeks ago.

I bought this coordinated set of fabrics and they are a little bit crazy but I love them all and I plan to use them on smaller items, like a wallet pattern I bought from a Lazy Girl like me, and small accessory bags, like for makeup or personal items in a purse. Mixing and matching wherever I can.

I can't wait to start. Problem is, I have a tiny little sewing machine that I bought years ago for hemming. It's a Singer, but it's a mini. I think it'll hold up to smaller items like the ones I want to make, but when it comes to crafting, I want all the bells and whistles. I see the sewing shops around here use Bernina, so I think I'll ask for one for Christmas.

I'm counting on you, Santa.

~R
*my discombobulation number

Like father, like son...

2011-11-13T18:32:00.001-05:00

Clothes shopping with BN is a waiting game. He takes quite a while to choose the clothes and then he has to try them on. It sounds pretty normal unless you are the one waiting. The wait goes on and on and on. And the funny thing is that the clothes he chooses look exactly like the other clothes hanging in the closet and folded in the dresser. Not sure what all the indecision is about.

Pete takes time too. His isn't about being choosy but more about finding a comfortable fit. His clothes have to be just so or he can't wear them. We spent way too much time in the store today. He came out with two pair of jeans and two shirts.

I'm exhausted.

~R

Does it bother

2011-11-12T22:02:00.001-05:00

anyone else that we had a national emergency broadcast test the other day?

~R
#12

11-11-11

2011-11-11T16:32:00.001-05:00

What an auspicious number.

Today the boys and I took a friend and went to the beach to watch the Tidewater Veteran's Day Parade. I laughed, I cried, I waved, I clapped and I thanked every veteran that I could. I loved having the boys there with me and explaining what the different groups represented. I especially enjoyed seeing my nephew lead his JROTC by calling cadence. Great moment.

I would love to live in a world of peace and love, but until that happens, I'm proud to have served my country and I am proud of those that came before me and those that are currently serving.

Happy Veteran's Day,
~R

#10 - I hate school

2011-11-10T20:42:00.001-05:00

This was said by Pete a week or so ago and I took it as a personal affront and told him so.

I let him know that I quit a perfectly good job because I wanted to stay home with him and then his brother. When we realized that our school system wasn't right for us, we pulled him out of school and began homeschooling so that he could be free to be himself. I spend a lot of money and time searching for just the perfect curricula for them both. And I spend a lot of time and money driving the two of them around every week, so that they can participate in co-ops, theater, and sports.

He corrected himself by saying it wasn't school he hated, but things that were hard to do in school. Then he thanked me homeschooling him.

Reason #4,197 why I love that kid.

~R

More on LGW

2011-11-09T10:35:00.000-05:00

NaBloPoMo #9

One article Laura Grace Weldon wrote dealt with violence. While skimming it, I found that the bigger message could easily be applied to everyday life. Something as small as resolving conflicts within a loving, peaceful family. (she herself may have said something similar, but I was skimming so may have missed some points) And it made me think about my dad's visit this weekend.

"Nonviolence requires a level of conviction and inner strength that makes violence look easy."

Back in the day, my dad's day, kids were seen and not heard and spanking was just part of life. He grew up in an orphanage and I'm sure the mentality there reinforced these ideas. As he's gotten older and raised other kids, including many step-siblings and my 15 year old half-brother, he's softened a bit. But on some things, he hasn't budged.

While visiting this past week, there were several occasions where I saw him shake his head and make that little hrmph sound as an indication that my boys were doing something wrong. Those times included them getting rowdy and back talking. He also said something to me once or twice about not letting them talk that way to me.

On some levels, I see it. On others, I don't. BN and I have always shared the opinion that human beings are human beings, no matter their age. And thus deserve the same dignities and preservation of self.

For one, we don't spank or smack. I always cringe when I see a person smack a baby. Babies don't know any better and smacking is not our solution. Their world is all about the exploration and sometimes that includes the "no-nos". There are plenty of ways to dissuade that discovery or behavior that do not involve violence.

Once the babies leave that phase they are just like us only smaller - both in size and knowledge base.

Anyway, I'm am way off track. Back to the story.

I admit that I probably let my kids get away with small infractions. I always discuss these issues, but don't always act on them unless bodily harm is involved. Or mental and emotional harm in the case of teasing and name calling. Or it involves social norms and how we deal with it. (we homeschoolers have a social stigma, apparently)

Kids get rowdy. As long as they are in our home and they are not bothering anyone else, I don't correct them. Based on my dad's hrmph, I knew they needed to take the fun elsewhere. No problem.

As far as the back talking or what dad perceived as back talking, well, I might be a bit wishy washy on this matter. BN and I believe that kids get a say in things. Do they get a say in our finances? No. Do they get a say in what BN and I personally do? No. But in respect to their own lives, they get a say.

So when I tell them to stop what they are doing and do something else, I allow for some negotiation. My dad doesn't.

But my kids are well adjusted human beings. Capable of thinking for themselves. And that's how I roll.

~R

Engrossed

2011-11-08T21:10:00.000-05:00

Nablomono #8

I'm actually gonna squeak this one in on time. I tend to get thoroughly engrossed in things in the evenings. My nightly interest might include knitting, crafting, reading, editing photos, or just vegging in front of the tv with my favorite man.

Tonight, while looking over curricula, I came across a newsletter with this writer, Laura Grace Weldon. Her website has me glued to my laptop. Everything she writes about, I want to copy and paste somewhere I'll see it again and be able to share with others.

Go on over and read. I have some things to ponder.

~R

#7

2011-11-07T08:59:00.000-05:00

Apparently, I'm not cut out for this everyday thing. I thought about writing yesterday up until I went to bed, but I was busy scanning old photos for my mom and editing them. Ones like this.

Original scan of my grandmother as a young girl.

After editing

I decided to leave the cardboard backing intact just because I like it. It helps further date the picture. For my family, it's nice to have these photos especially since my grandmother passed away last April.

~R

Digital Photography

2011-11-06T20:41:00.001-05:00

has put me in photo hell. I am sifting and sorting and deleting like crazy. It doesn't help that I am now using a windows computer and I'm not used to the key shortcuts and for some reason I have three of everything. I have no idea how that happened.

One day, I'll get to the editing and digital scrapbooking.
That is...if I can stop taking more photos and adding to the chaos.

~R

Nablo #6

Forgiveness and Acceptance

2011-11-05T20:16:00.000-04:00

It's really all I needed all along. Or what I needed to do.

Live and Let Live.

Peace out,
~R

(Day 4) I should explain

2011-11-04T18:47:00.000-04:00

~~Yesterday~~, This morning I back-dated my post and blamed it on my dad. (oopsie)

He was coming for a visit and was expected to be here at 9pm. So I put off cleaning until Thursday afternoon, because I figured I had time.

My plan on Thursday was co-op from 9:30 to 1:30, then home for our school work and then get RePete to the soccer field for a make-up game, and then back home where I would have about three hours to pick up the house, make dinner, blog and be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for Dad's arrival.

Yeah right on a couple of counts. More than likely, I would have been glassy-eyed and dragging-my-tail and he showed up as I was rushing to get RePete's soccer gear on and get out the door at 4:45. So he joined us for the game and my lovely husband took us all out to dinner.

And then I came home and sunk my hiney into the couch, watched Three and a Half Men reruns with Dad until we all yawned each other into going to bed.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

~R

#3

2011-11-03T11:04:00.000-04:00

I'm blaming it all on my Dad.

D=99.9999999

2011-11-02T12:10:00.001-04:00

(or NaBloNoMoDay 2)

This is my brain.

This was my brain on iCrack.

Of the eight entries on my iPhone notes, I only know what three of them are. I have no clue what the other five are for and I deleted one that had this "10141285". What in the world does that even mean?

We all know that I am no techy, but I like that notes feature on my iPhone. I like the convenience of it. I h-a-t-e having to type on that little keypad. And then there's the "10141285" stuff.

So recently I've gone back to my high school days. In high school I carried around one of those little spiral notebooks (the kind that fit in the palm of your hand) and in it I wrote down everything. Because of that little notebook, I never missed turning in assignments on time or remembering to study for tests. I never missed a marching band practice or game or parade or competition. I even doodled and wrote Robin Marie (insert last name of BN) over and over.

I figure there's gotta be something to that.

My life has gotten way more complicated since then.

So in my Turning 40 mindset, the one that says, "I'm going to the store for coconut oil" and comes back with seven things and no coconut oil, I figure this has got to work for me.

Wish me luck,

Nablopomo #1

2011-11-01T14:16:00.000-04:00

I know October was Breast Cancer awareness month and I missed the boat, but I wanted to put in a plug for thermograms. Last November after my physical, I scheduled a mammogram as per my doctor's suggestion. I have to admit that other than the wait and having a strange women pull and tug and rearrange my breasts (oh and not being able to wear deodorant) multiple times, it wasn't so bad. I'd heard the horror stories of the pain and the squeezing and squashing.

A week or so after that I received a letter stating that there was an area of concern and that I needed to come back for a second mammo and possibly an ultrasound.

Even though we have no family history of cancers and even though my gut told me that it was nothing, in fact it was probably just my fibrous boobs (family history), letters like that will make you pause and cause butterflies in the tummy.

So I called and set a second appointment and then my doctor called that same day to make sure I was scheduling an appointment and then I went.

THIS time it hurt. The area of concern was on the area closest to my underarm but still on the breast area. It actually made me cry. And then they did two ultrasounds. It took FOREVER.

The whole time I kept thinking, this can't be good for me. The squishing and the squashing just didn't feel right to me and I vowed to myself and my doctor (who called for a follow up and insisted on a six month mammo to set a baseline) that I would never do this again.

So here we are almost a year later and I'm due for a physical again and I thought I'd be proactive by getting a thermogram.

I highly recommend them. There's no squeezing, there's no squashing and the results are instantaneous. I'd love to share my results but I've gotta keep things PG on here and am not in the mood for the type of spam I'd get from that.

Anyhoo, it was just fibrous tissue. Btw, they aren't covered by insurance. Figures.

Test you breast,
~R

ps here's a link to Dr. Mercola's site with a video that describes it rather well.
pss it cost me about $200 and I'll gladly pay it again.
psss neither procedure is 100%

21 years and still going strong

2011-10-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked 21 years since BN and I got married. And well, that's a long time. Only it doesn't seem like all that long ago.

Just yesterday, my oldest was talking about how dad never gives up. (apparently not on me either - teehee) Right now he has the boys semi-convinced that he is Batman.

So I told him a story from when we were first married.

*******************************

One day back when we were newly married, I winked at BN. BN looked at me and blinked both eyes. I asked him if he meant to blink both eyes or could he not wink and he stated that he could not wink.

I was stunned because I never knew this about him. Prior to marriage, we had dated for almost 5 years. How could I not know this about my beloved, the future father of my children, the one with whom I share all my secrets?

Ten years pass and we had our oldest son. BN looked at me from across the room and winked. Needless to say, my mouth fell agape and I asked, "when did you learn to wink?"

He just laughed and said, "I've always known how to wink."

~R

And yet still I write.

2011-10-12T16:56:00.000-04:00

I copied all of my posts about the boys or relevant family things into a document and then couldn't push the delete button. While copying, I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed my blog. While I may have started this thing out all willy nilly, I've recorded things that I would never have remembered without its help.

The same with f@ceb00k. I weeded out most people from my list of friends a long time ago. Other than a handful, my list consists only of my family. And for that reason, I cannot delete it either. For some of us, it is the only way we'll stay in touch and I've enjoyed it. For others, well, I could do without the others, buuuut there's that saying about friends and family...something about not being able to pick your family. God love 'em.

So that's that.

~R

ps Hey, Sandy, I wanted to tell YOU first that I'm back on here. :o)
pss Ami, you should have known I'd be back. Been there, done that a few times. :oP
psss Yes, Beckie, I am still knitting. Are you still home educatin' your youngins?

It's been real...

2011-09-30T10:45:00.002-04:00

I've thoroughly enjoyed my time on the internet. I've loved blogging and reading blogs and making new "friends". At the same time, blogging is a chore. An unnecessary chore added to my already full dance card. It also makes me think about that funny little saying, The Internet is Forever.

It's time for me to book, so by Monday, I'll be deleting my blog and FB page.

It's articles like this that make my technologically challenged brain misfire.

ENJOY!

~R

The day the TV went out...

2011-09-27T15:09:00.001-04:00

It was a dark and gloomy...day. It really was. We had just been cleared of the two tornado warnings in our area and with all the rain and the wind, we just wanted to hunker down and watch a movie.

BN was out of town and a neighbor kid just home from school was hunkering down with us. Then, "POP!" and the 55 inch screen went dark. At first there was excitement over the popping noise and then disbelief that we couldn't watch t.v. or a movie or play a video game.

That television was the only one in the house because BN and I are strict about keeping all television activity in the family room. Our bedroom is used for two things and t.v. is not one of them. We don't allow televisions in the boys' rooms because we don't want them spending so much time apart from the family, which happens with kids we know that have access to games and computers and televisions in their own rooms.

So when the boob tube went out and the mourning period was over, the boys grabbed their big box of markers and art pads and sat at the table drawing until dinner.

We spent the remainder of Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday without television. The boys played outside when it wasn't raining and when it was, they played indoors. Simple as that.

You can bet your booty that we are fixing the problem, but I'm kinda liking the silence.

~R

Week in Review (Sep 19-23)

2011-09-23T16:08:00.000-04:00

This week has been a testament to my garbled mind. I've talked about funny things the boys say, clothing, gardening, cholesterol and grammar and writing. No focus button.

Pete started his Film Crew this week and he seems happy to be a part of it. I know he'll love it even more when the actual filming takes place.

RePete is rocking the soccer field. He loves soccer. In fact, he smiles the entire time he plays. It's a joy to watch.

I've come up with a reward system to get RePete to learn his sight words. Money talks, people.

I met up with a friend at co-op that I hadn't seen since last spring and we had a blast catching up. She's a total free spirit and I'm a closet free spirit and it's liberating to be around her.

I'm focusing my spare time on holistic remedies for various maladies, one with no cure and one with or so they say. I may write more on this in the future. I'm also trying to get back into yoga.

BN has a 30 hour adventure race this weekend. We thought about going along and camping but he won't be there for ~~taking the tent down~~ all the fun, so we decided to wait until another time to camp. Not sure what the boys and I will be doing this weekend.

~R

I decided not to use the Homeschool Mother's Journal for my weekly post because I don't actually link up with them. Felt kinda like I was schmoozing.

Grammar/Writing Revamp

2011-09-23T08:40:00.000-04:00

Already! I guess it's better sooner than later.

Pete absolutely does not like Writing With Skill. I think I was being overly ambitious when I decided to use this program for him this year. Luckily, I was using her beta version FOR FREE, so no money lost. And we were just 5 weeks in, so not a lot of time wasted either.

As his *teacher*, I knew better. But I really wanted it to be the right program for me him. I should have taken a step back when on the WTM boards, I read that completion of the four levels will have the students ready for entry level college writing. This program is meant to begin in fifth grade. Which means that he would theoretically be ready for college level writing by ninth grade. Of course, it is recommended that he then take the next four levels (rhetoric) before embarking on college courses. Adding to this is the fact that the grammar levels (grades 1-4) were not ready when he was that age and based on his late reading, he wouldn't have been prepared for them anyway.

And then there's Advanced Language Lessons, also free. Yep. I was gung-ho about it too. Pete says, "too wordy." He was having trouble getting what was being asked because of the wordiness. And while I can agree with him, I still really loved it.

I showed Pete last year's grammar program and asked him to look at a chapter that covered the same material as ALL and decide which worked for him. He picked last year's program without blinking an eye. He said he understood what was being said and what he needed to do for the workbook.

Last year's program was Growing With Grammar. I have my issues with GWG but we both like it so I bought GWG6. I think I will use good literature from time to time and see if Pete can pick the sentence apart. I also purchased their new writing program WWW6. I've heard good reviews of WWW on TWTM boards.

I really wanted to get back to the WTM process with grammar and writing but in the end I have to do what is right for Pete.

~R

D = 89

2011-09-22T09:29:00.000-04:00

It's hard to know the *truth* when so many people have their own version of it. Whether they truly believe it, have a hidden agenda, or can back it up with science, there is always somebody else that tries to debunk it. And even their *truth* seems plausible.

That's what I run into when I research cholesterol.

I've always read that if you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, whatever, you're bound to get it. I've always taken the approach to this as follows.

I don't have to get it because they:

smoke, drink high amounts of caffeine, or eat typical southern fare (ie grease, gravy, red meat), and processed foods
don't exercise and in fact have not lead very active lives

I, on the other hand:

have always eaten healthy. I take liberties, of course, but I avoid red meats, grease and gravy, processed food, and most fatty, high cholesterol type foods that we're always told to avoid.
I have always been active, although I am the first to admit that I haven't been as diligent in working out as I used to be.
I don't smoke, drink, use drugs or medications.

And yet my numbers have always been off the charts. So high in fact that my doctors and nurses plead with me to medicate. My family (not BN) begs me to take it. It is all based on their version of the truth.

But synthetic, processed-in-a-lab medications are not my idea of a health regimen.

~R

Growing Boys

2011-09-21T13:01:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how big my boys are getting. This past weekend we were hit with a cold front and Pete had zero pants and RePete had one pair. I don't know how that happened except I do have a fuzzy memory of sneaking worn running pants into the trash each time I did a load of laundry this past spring. Pete has a thing for comfortable clothing.

I also recall a dim memory of loading jean after jean into the bag I donate to the Vets every couple of months. RePete likes things a little more polished and likes jeans and collared shirts. Although, his Tony Hawk t-shirt collection is spilling out of his drawer.

All this meant we had to go clothes shopping. Of course, on the way to the store, Pete declared that he would only be purchasing running pants. RePete stated that he needed a new hoodie since he only had one in the closet. Hmmm. Thoughts are seeping out that show me putting hoodie after hoodie into the Vet bag last spring when I washed and stowed our coats.

While Pete tried on his pants of choice I was looking at jeans and picked up his size with the added Husky on the label. His issue with clothing goes back to when he was very little. He's never liked elastic on the arms or legs and has always preferred soft clothing to stiffer items, like jeans. But I took a chance and showed him the pants and asked him just to try them and if he didn't like them, I was fine with that. Well he liked them. He liked them a lot. Even though he doesn't need a husky, that little bit of extra room kept the jeans from feeling so...jean-like. And the jeans had the worn look, so they were softer anyway. We bought three pair.

RePete was easy because he likes jeans and I just picked up three pair in his size. He found the hoodie of his dreams, but they didn't have his size. I found the manager and there were none in the back and none at the other stores. He couldn't even find it at the store online. So we are on the hunt for it ourselves online. Somebody has to sell it. Normally, I'd have him pick something else, but he's not a picky kid and will wear just about anything I give him (since I like tailored clothing myself) and I want him happy.

And then I came home and found a Rubbermaid tub in the top of Pete's closet that had a label of 8-10 winter on it. Now Pete has six more brand new pair of pants. These were jeans and stiffer cargo type pants that Pete would never wear. There were also five winter shirts for Repete. So other than the hoodie, he's done. I love hand-me-downs.

Now to take a better inventory of Pete's drawers and see how much more shopping I need to do.

~R

Garden Woes

2011-09-21T08:28:00.000-04:00

Our garden was a total bust this year. No cucumbers. Five tomatoes. A handful of green beans and limas. Oh and a couple of servings of lettuce and spinach. No zuchinni, no peppers of any kind, and watermelons and cantaloupes that didn't ripen.

Look how sad this is.

I was so disappointed that I didn't even take many pictures. I'm not sure what happened this time around but I am seriously thinking of going back to the old row planting. Not sure how we'll handle the moles/voles whatever they are, but this square thing isn't working for me. I'm sure it works, I've seen other gardeners who use it, but I can't get it right. I want to not only be able to provide food for my family during the growing season, but also be able to freeze or can items for future use. I am so envious of the other gardeners I see or read that have been able to do this.

~R

True Love and Mahjong

2011-09-17T21:56:00.000-04:00

Tonight at dinner, as our children enjoyed gelatos, BN and I linked arms and played Mahjong on our iPhones. He had just shown me the app on his and I had just downloaded it. We were cracking up over the fortunes.

Pete looked at us and said, "You two are true love. You never fight or argue and you do love things." (he was referring to the linked-arm mahjong-playing - lol)

He then said he was glad we were his parents.

I love this for two reasons. I love that we are in love after all these years and that it shows, even through something as simple as that. I also love that we are setting an example of what a healthy relationship looks like. It's important to me that my boys see it and hopefully will seek out individuals in their life that will be healthy for them as well.

~R

He said, He said

2011-09-16T13:58:00.001-04:00

We have a new little girl living in our cul-de-sac. It doesn't bother her at all that only boys live around these parts. Pete came in from playing the other day and said, "Girl are too hard to play with. They're so bossy."

*******************

We had our annual termite inspection done on the house and we had the bug guy take care of the ants by the back door. He let me know that while under our house, he came across a snake skin and it wasn't a black snake. He believes it was from a water moccasin (we live on the water) and he laid the skin just inside the crawl space door to warn anyone entering to be careful and look for snakes. Pete and RePete speculated on what other type snakes it could have been (BN had to kill one recently and the fascination with snakes is high right now) and RePete asked, "Do you think it was a black mama?" He meant mamba.

I burned water

2011-09-12T17:28:00.000-04:00

I've said for years that I wanted a personal chef. I think this is proof that I require one. I forgot that I put water on the stove to boil.

I've heard people use the expression that they are so bad at cooking they burn water. I've officially done it. I'm that bad.

I wonder if my pan is safe to use. It was actually smoking. This is a comparison of what my sauce pans usually look like and what happened with the water incident.

D = 33

2011-09-10T18:31:00.000-04:00

The other day, Karmyn commented on my blog post about schedules that she was disorganized and couldn't get her chaos under control.

I've decided that since I turned 40, I am always in some stage of discombobulation. In fact, I should probably start each post with my number. You know, like a sleep number, only mine would tell my discombobulation number.

Today...not so bad. I managed to get everyone up, get to the soccer field on time, clean bathrooms, clean carpets and now I'm settled in for a relaxing night.

~R

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

I started keeping our schedule on a form that I found on DonnaYoung.org and it has worked great except that it makes me think in weeks instead of days. If we have a holiday or an impromptu visit from family or friends and we miss a day of our "week", then I get all discombobulated.

I then have to add that day to the next week but since we can only school four days during the week, it leaves me having to double up or skipping, or moving that last day to the next week and it's like bowling pins falling one after the other. At some point we knock them all out, but it takes time. And I'm frazzled.

And slightly crazy.

I could save myself the frustration by using a weekend day to complete the work or the evening of that missed day, but those times are sacred to us as a family. And even though I like to consider myself a hip homeschooler and an outside the box thinker, in reality, I like the inside of the box.

So I need to do something else. I think it will be as simple as erasing the days of the week from the top of the page and just doing the next day. Technically, I already do that, but seeing that Monday, Tuesday... at the top of the page really makes me crazy when it's Monday and we are doing Thursdays work!

Now where's my whiteout? Do they even sell it anymore?

~R

New Laptop

2011-09-06T15:29:00.000-04:00

I got a new laptop. RePete broke my old one a few years ago and I just couldn't justify buying another - although I pined for one.

This year I decided I could justify it. My photos are taking up all the available space on our home computer. Add Pete's *films to the gigabytes* have officially overloaded the Mac.

Between being able to move my photos here and having the mobility to work on them while the kids are in co-op and being able to bring school work with us, I bought one. What I couldn't justify was the price of a new Mac, so it's old school for me. Windows? I am having to reteach myself what that means. Are they still called IBM compatibles? Mine is a Sony VAIO.

I miss the Mac. I miss my comfort level and I don't like that every time I turn this thing on or off, updates have to load before either happens. What happened between yesterday and today that is so important that it just has to be uploaded? You'd think that as long as Windows has been out, it'd be a done deal by now. I can't figure it out.

The other learning curve is that I no longer have Adobe Bridge. I use it on the Mac to organize my photos. It was left over from when I had PhotoShop CS3. Now I use Elements because I just don't need all the bells and whistles on PS.

Elements 9 has its own organizer and while I like it, it has bugs, I think. Every so often it quits on me. Or is it Windows fault? I have no clue. My technologically challenged brain can't comprehend these happenings.

Which begs an answer to why I think I can scrapbook on the computer? Circle cutters anyone?

~R

2011-09-01T17:40:00.000-04:00

I love this time of year. I love that the heat will simmer down. I love that nature turns on the colorvision and I love that school starts.

Even though my kids don't hop on a yellow bus and leave me at home, we do get back into a routine, or more like a rhythm. Our co-op starts. Soccer and bowling leagues start. We participate in homeschool days at local sites and of course we "do school" each day.

We started our bookwork about five weeks ago and this week I decided to take off. We had a pool party with our co-op today and tomorrow we leave to visit family and I figured we'd just enjoy this last week of summer without school.

That turned out to be a mistake. My natives are restless and I am so glad this week is over. It's really put a damper on things having the squabbling start back up. I've found that keeping them busy prevents most of the fussing. Bored kids don't have time to fight.

Their future looks to be VERY busy.

~R

The Rest 2011-2012

2011-08-18T14:59:00.004-04:00

For science, we'll be starting our second year with Mr. Qs science. *hint - you can download the first year for FREE*

This year, Earth Science is the topic and we are all happy about that. My kids love space, weather and geology. It's labeled as Elementary Science but I think it is fine for an introductory look at science for my 11 year old. Last year he read the text, completed the questions and then he, RePete and I did the experiments. Sometimes I added other experiments like those found at Thames and Kosmos. This year we are doing everything the same, except RePete wants to hear the text, so I am doing the reading.

For history, Pete reads from SOTW2, outlines Kingfisher pages, adds dates and pictures to his timeline, completes the mapwork in the SOTW2 Activity Guide and finds it on a modern day map. This mapwork, along with general map skills suffice for geography this year. Although I do have additional resources including Expedition Earth and The Geography Coloring Book. Not sure how or if I'll include them yet.

For spelling, we are continuing with All About Spelling. Pete is finishing up level 5 and then will complete level 6 this year. RePete is starting with level 1 and may get started on 2. (This will depend on his reading.) For Pete, I am trying to come up with some kind of review. AAS has review built into it, but from reading his stories that he writes and illustrates, there are some weak areas. Working on that.

For Repete, he'll continue working on Writing With Ease 1 this year, skim through First Language Lessons 2, work through many Explode the Code books (he actually enjoys these), and continue with Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading and other reading materials. And soccer. He plays in the fall and spring.

For Pete, all that is left is literature. I purchased lots of good books covering the time period we are studying and will continue purchasing the Riordan books and any other books that catch his fancy. He's not a sporty kid. He loves being outside biking, running and ripstiking, but sports aren't his thing. He will be stepping up his drum lessons with dad this year. And learning to type.

Both kids will take classes at RSA. RePete has art and elementary music classes and Pete has art, middle school music, theater and film crew. Last year Pete took the film-making class and loved it but this year it was scheduled in the same time slot as music and we require a music class. Luckily for him, the film instructor also holds a Film Crew 101 "course" on a different day. It's actually more of an internship than a course; the students get to help produce a short film or whatever other project the instructor is working on. Here's a film the students helped make last year... Zombie Pickles From Space

That wraps up our plans. Of course, there are lots of field trips and side trips woven in and if something is particularly interesting, we'll spend time getting sidetracked.

In the end, it's about our journey, not boxes with tick marks.

~R

ps I almost forgot Nature Study. This is a random lesson that comes about just by our being outside. If I know we'll see something in particular, I'll remember to read up on it. Sometimes we take pictures, sometimes we draw or paint. Sometimes we just observe the beauty around us.

Theater Takes Over

2011-08-16T09:27:00.000-04:00

I found some posts that never got posted and I figured I went through all the trouble to write them, so they might as well get face time.

April 7, 2011

Three times a year, theater takes over. Our group meets for Fall, Winter and Spring sessions. The week of our production, we have rehearsals Tuesday through Thursday with quick dress rehearsals prior to the shows.

With Repete in soccer practice two nights a week and then a game on Saturday, we have to do tag-team parenting. This week will be especially rough since BN is in an orienteering race and that means on Saturday, I have to take RePete to his game and then race Pete over to the theater for a quick dress rehearsal and show. Should be an interesting day.

Pete preparing for his show.

RePete kickin' butt at his game last week.

Ready for a relaxing summer.

Math 2011-12

2011-08-15T09:06:00.002-04:00

Well, well, well.

Pete hates math. I'm not sure why except that it takes longer than most subjects and he has to think. He offers no other reason than "it's hard". So, I'm pretty sure I'm right in my reasoning.

This is an area where I thought rote memorization was a waste of time and I was wrong. Poor Pete the guinea pig had to find that out. I figured the most important part of doing math was understanding the process, being able to find the answer, from from A to B. Memorizing facts was secondary. But in reality, and I probably knew it back then, knowing the facts makes the process so much easier, or rather quicker.

This year I came full circle and switched us back to Saxon. Pete is in 7/6 and each day starts with a facts drill - which he hates. I haven't been doing the mental math portion because we've been using mostly mental math programs for the past five years - he gets it - and I'm trying not to overwhelm him in the beginning. Next is practice problems for what we've just learned and then mixed problems. So maybe 30 problems in all. Not that much compared to being in a classroom and working problems and then working double that for homework. I remind him of this daily.

For the timed test, I give him five minutes because he needs it. He hasn't completed a full page yet in that five minutes and he probably should - this is where I smack myself for not boring him with flashcards. The remaining problems take him much longer than it probably should, again smacking myself. But I figure with all the drill and the built-in review, I should be able to get him up to par this year, at least that is my goal.

For RePete, math is intuitive. He wasn't ready to do a lot of school last year, so we touched on math here and there. When I could get him to sit still, we did a worksheet, or a math game. He loves games the most. Unrelated, he made up a card game called Bob. He's cracks me up!

I decided to start him out in second grade Saxon based on the skills he possessed from what little we did over the last two years and I wanted to make sure we covered all the basics. Just yesterday, he was doing a timed fact test on the doubles and when he came to 6+6, I heard him reasoning to himself, "5+5 is 10, so 6+6 is eleven...twelve!" We've haven't gone over any thinking like that, he just got it. He's even able to compute more complicated math problems because he understands what the end result should look like. Not that I've taught him, he just gets math like he gets science.

So, I think this will be a good year for math all around.

~R

Reading 2011-12

2011-08-12T09:32:00.006-04:00

RePete, like his brother before him, is still learning to read fluently at age seven and a half. As in my school teacher friend is tutoring him for me and he still scored in late K when we started mid-summer. I've been using a few different resources for his reading and it's either bad teaching on my part or a readiness for RePete, like his brother before him.

As an update, Pete finished reading all five Percy Jackson books in less than two months and rereads parts of them for fun now. He is starting another Rick Riordan series, The Kane Chronicles. (BN and I will have to steal it at night so we too can read it.) Pete has decided he wants to read all of Riordan's books with the exception of the 39 Clues series. He doesn't care for them for some reason he can't articulate but I'll buy the first few and keep them lying around anyway. He may change his mind. It may be that the one he tried before was from the library and he has a thing about books from the library. Unlike me, who loves the smell of the library - part paper part mustiness - Pete doesn't. And he likes to be able to revisit books he loves so having his own is a must. I figure if it'll keep his nose in a book, then buy I will!

After fretting and worrying when Pete was seven and still not fluently reading, I've taken a much more laid back approach to the delay with RePete. I wouldn't have sought tutoring for him except that my friend was so excited to work with him that I couldn't turn her down. (She'd just come off a high getting all of her K'ers to read and read well.)

At the same time, I know that reading opens so many doors and fosters some independence so I would prefer he read proficiently now that later, but again, no stress.

Not for him and not for me.

~R

Writing 2011-12

2011-08-11T11:14:00.005-04:00

Oh how I dread the writing.

Pete loves to write so I don't want to squash that interest, but his writing needs work. Granted he's only eleven and I've been teaching him grammar and sentence structure, but I still think it's an area where he can improve and he'll need to improve in the coming years.

So bless those folks at Peace Hill Press. They are working on the middle or logic years for writing as well. The only formal writing program we've used is Writing Strands (WS) and it bores Pete silly. So silly that his sentences usually end up with the word poop in them. So I knew I had to find something that focused more on the mechanics of his writing than the creative. He's plenty creative when he's interested and obviously WS was not interesting to him.

So once again, Susan generously provided chapters of her upcoming book Writing With Skill (WWS) to all the begging WTMers on the board and shared it on her blog .

I really like that Susan focuses on the mechanics before the creative. I think she is spot on in desiring to have the students understand how to put the words on the page before letting them loose to do their own writing. And being able to find the main ideas and supporting ideas will be a huge boon to his report writing skills later on.

All that said, he's is struggling with it. We didn't have the luxury of using the Writing With Ease series geared towards the lower grades and I love that process, one also used by Charlotte Mason. We started using the WWE 4 book last year and he seemed to do okay with it so I'm not sure if the trouble he's having now stems from not having enough practice at narrating or if he's just being reluctant.

Time will tell, but I'm sold on this program.

~R

ps once again, WS is a perfectly valid program and many people sing its praises, just not what we need right now.
pss I use the word so too much which is strange because I don't use it when I speak.

Grammar 2011-12

2011-08-10T17:04:00.004-04:00

After using Growing with Grammar (GWG) with Pete for the past three years, we're making a switch. Peace Hill Press is coming out with grammar and writing programs for the middle school or logic stage. Although her first book, Advanced Language Lessons (ALL), is slated as fifth grade resources based on the progression of her books, I'm glad it's just coming out in his sixth grade year. Their books tend to cover a range of ages and he falls within it without it being below his skill set. (I wish her elementary years had been completed when we were in that stage - but I can use them with RePete.) We began using the teaser chapters that Susan Wise Bauer graciously gave us eager WTM beavers and I love them.

GWG was great in that it covered everything and wrote to the student. What I didn't like about it was how the grammar was put into practice. The student worksheets were sentence after sentence after example after example of the same thing. For some students this type of rote memorization might work. Pete basically worked the first problem and them filled in all the remaining blanks based on his first answer. It wasn't effective in teaching him the rules. He didn't have to work to get the answers and form an understanding.

An example from GWG on pronouns looks like this:

Jerry drew pictures in his notebook.
Asta brushes her hair.

FLL, reminding myself I only have the first five (not totally edited) chapters or so, is turning out to be just what I think he needs. He can't guess the answers because the problems are all different and Susan uses passages or sentences from real literature.

Although Helen Keller was blind and deaf, she became a famous author and speaker.
Peter realized that he would never be able to capture Azov unless he could stop Turkish ships from reaching it.

I think it is obvious how the GWG way would be easy to "cheat" your way through and the FLL way would take a bit more thought.

And so far, it has him thinking.

~R

ps. I think GWG is a perfectly valid program. I just have a different need right now.
pss I think I need to take the grammar course right along with Pete. I suck at grammar.

Friendships - Part Deux

2011-08-08T11:48:00.004-04:00

I deleted Part One but it's available in readers. I'm not sure why I deleted Part One.

But Part Deux is where the real meat of the issue lies. We're dumb and we're abnormal.

I was reading over at The Foil Hat and the last sentence of her post summed up our last six years of homeschooling. I commented about it because it struck me so.

I live in a huge area. Our cities all clumped together make the 5th largest metropolis in the US. We have a HUGE homeschooling community. If you can throw a rock, chances are you'll hit a homeschooler.

A gifted homeschooler.

Unless you hit my kids. They are as dumb as the rocks being thrown. Or at least that is my impression. Personally, I think my kids are awesome.

Pete can draw anything, is a wonderful comedic actor and can play the drums by ear. Pete has written several stories and comics and has written and produced several well thought out films. Pete also likes to just hang out and play video games or watch television or read a book.

RePete can also draw anything, has also started to play by ear - both drums and piano, and who knows what else, he's only seven so time will tell. RePete doesn't know all the terminology, but he totally understands the way our universe works. I have to confer with BN on this because I'm not a science-y person. But in the middle of dinner he'll start talking about recycling or planet rotation. He still loves Legos and Playmobile and video games and Spongebob and is a top player in his soccer league.

But those boys are just plain dumb compared to what the other mothers share about their kids around the playground.

I wish I knew more dumb people. I wish they were a little more abnormal.

~R

2011-08-04T13:55:00.001-04:00

Wow! I leave my blog world for a few months and I come back to a total stranger. Is this even my blog?

It looks like my blog. It smells like my blog. Okay, well actually my computer screen still smells like my kids' hands because they can't keep their fingers off the screen and I don't even want to analyze what smells are lurking on here. But this whole editing page is crazy and BIG and WHITE!

My computer illiteracy expands year by year such that I cannot for the life of me do a screen print to use in this post. But that compounding deficiency is also causing my chest to tighten a bit as I type because what happens when I finish and can't figure out what to do next. I'll still be sitting here tomorrow morning staring at this screen instead of a published page.

Which means squat because who the hell cares anyway. And why when I push the return key does my cursor pop to the beginning of the previous paragraph? Oh Lordy, I'm doomed. I don't like change.

~R

Photographs

2011-05-06T15:09:00.000-04:00

Can I just say I love my hand-me-down iPhone 3. I was tired of my old flip-don't do darn thing-phone and BN wanted to upgrade to the iPhone 4, so I got his old phone.

I loves it!

I started texting. Never knew I would like doing that. It's so easy to drop a quick note to someone. Or have long conversations with your best friend while she's at work. *snicker*

I love being able to look up stuff while we are out and about. And checking traffic on the many tunnels and bridges that back up around here.

But mostly, I love that I have a camera with me at all times. And the quality of the pictures aren't bad. In fact, they are pretty good. Not as good at the 4, but still good and I don't miss great shots of my boys because I'm not lugging around my big camera and all its accessories.

If only it had video...I'll have to wait for BN to upgrade again and then I can get his 4, which has video.

I wonder if all the other mothers out there have guilt problems with pictures? Do you try to get an equal number of shots of your kids? Technology has made this task so much easier. If RePete is doing something cute, I snap a quick picture and turn to Pete and do the same. If Pete is doing something radical on his Ripstik, then I can turn and get RePete to do the same thing. Snap! Snap! It's that easy.

I was going through the 200 plus photos on my phone this afternoon and made sure that after deleting photos (already downloaded, of course), that I had the same number of pics of each child. Trust me this is necessary because child number one notices these things.

Here's a few that I like carrying around with me. Remember those plastic picture sleeves that fit in your wallet? Thing of the past. And I can carry so many more around with me now.

Homeschool Mother's Journal - 5/6/11

2011-05-06T08:49:00.004-04:00

Not sure why this didn't post on Friday, but here it is.

(I am not actually participating by linking up but wanted to provide the link in case you do!)

In my life this week... I've been bored out of my gourd.

In our homeschool this week...Just plugging along. Should be finished by the end of the month.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...we had our last homeschool PE this week. It was a field day with goodies at the end. Lots of fun.

We also visited BN's parents this past weekend and the boys got to hunt for shark's teeth with their grandma. It's one of our favorite things to do when we visit.

My favorite thing this week was...Got to hang around horses and breathe country air.

What's working/not working for us...lack of social activity.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...getting ready for the homeschool convention. I normally order my books online, but always like to go and see what's available. I always take a price list with me and if the booth has it for cheaper, then I buy it there. This year I'm planning to take BN and the boys so they can see what it is all about. I think when they see and know what I have to wade through in order to pick the very best books for them, they have a better understanding.

What to Do, What to Do

2011-05-04T11:47:00.000-04:00

I couldn't wait for all the hustle and bustle of our schooling days to wind down and now that it has, I'm feeling restless. I actually miss all the running and seeing people.

***********

Why is it that the people I love being around the most, work?

***********

I'm looking forward to:

Homeschool Day at King's Dominion

My mom visiting

The pool opening

Summer camp for the boys (two weeks)

Family mini-excursions

************

I need to be busy. It looks like I will be spring cleaning over the next couple of weeks to keep busy. That should hold me over until summer really kicks in.

Garden - May 2

2011-05-02T14:07:00.000-04:00

Our internet has been down for a week. I've had to check email and post on FB using my iPhone. But after many dollars and frustrations with the monopoly that is our internet, we're back online. I don't know what we'll do when we move out to the country.

Our garden is moving along. I feel like it is taking longer than last year??

Our lettuce is growing! I don't know how it'll end up but for now we have lettuce. Very exciting times around here. Of course, I'm not quite sure how and when to harvest it.

Corn is growing as expected.

Our bush beans will need string supports soon. Plan to work on those this week.

Oh and first time for spinach too. Again not sure how these will do with the hot weather already upon us. But both the spinach and lettuce are heirloom varieties that are supposed to tolerate heat well.

The broccoli is growing like before but I'd actually like to see some florets this time. Again, maybe too late.

I've been thinking...

2011-04-25T11:37:00.000-04:00

this would be a good time to take the batteries out of the smoke alarms.

...about a lot of things. One recurrent theme is selfish and it revolves around a being a stay at home mom. Wondering what could have been? How successful would I have become in my career had I put the kids in daycare and then school?

And then once I get over my selfishness, I wonder about my children. Should I have put them in school?

And I look ahead to when my children are grown and have children of their own and wonder how they will raise them. Will they want to homeschool? Will they want me to help and would I be willing?

BN always said that had I continued on my path, I'd be running the company by now. But back to my questions? What would that mean for me? For my family?

And is that our goal in life? To be at the top of the company we work for? To "have it all". What does that get us in then end? Whether you believe there is an afterlife or you reincarnate or that there is nothing at all after death, why are we here and what are we doing?

I wonder about the purpose of life and realize that all of these concerns can be answered if I find that purpose.

the fire trucks should be bearing down on our house right about now.

I received, in the mail, a christian homeschool magazine. I don't know how I got it, but there is was and since I'm nosy and love to read, I decided to take peek inside. About half of the stories I skipped immediately. Stories about being a "help meet" and "subordinate to my husband" are not stories that interest me.

But one story, amid all the brainwashing, did use a few words I could understand. She spoke of the seasons of life and how one "can't retire now at age 30-something and then bear children at 60". And how the seasons of life are "fleeting".

To appease my wandering mind and answer my own questions, I feel like I'm where I need to be. While there is a tiny part inside me that wants all the recognition (blog much?), it is tiny and as the years pass, that need gets even smaller.

And rather than worry about what ifs of the future, I'll tend this season that I'm in and let the future seasons develop as they will.

~R

Homeschool Mother's Journal - 4/22/11

2011-04-23T20:05:00.000-04:00

(I am not actually participating by linking up but wanted to provide the link in case you do!)

In my life this week...I rejoined the Y. We've been Y members off and on for the past 11 years. I think it'll last this time because the boys are older and are more interested in going. The daycare is great but they've been too big for that for a while now, even though the age limit is 8. RePete is very excited that at 7, he's old enough to go to the game room. And Pete actually likes to work out sometimes. So I'm hoping that I can get my workouts done during the day since the boys will be occupied rather than having to go at other times at which I am prone to fail.

In our homeschool this week...Just a normal week here. No theater on Wednesday and no co-op on Thursday. Ahhh! I feel relaxation coming my way.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...We have no plans to go anywhere or see anyone. I like it.

My favorite thing this week was...Wow, this is getting redundant but I enjoyed the peace and quiet. The stress of getting from here to there has been removed and I'm feeling calmer.

What's working/not working for us...We are switching theater groups. The one Pete has been attending is quite a drive for us. It also was a class added in at the request of homeschoolers. As such, it has been treated like a step-child. There is no promoting, the sets don't match our plays. The other classes all do a version of the same play. For example, the winter theme was Winnie the Pooh. Each of the evening and Saturday classes all did this play and tailored it to the ages of the students. The set was painted with trees and honeybees. Our homeschool kids meet on Wed morning and our play was The Fisherman and His Wife. Um, not quite the same theme here. But we pay the same price per class, meet just as long and the kids work just as hard. In fact, our kids actually memorize their lines. Go figure. So, we've decided to move Pete out of this class and luckily, through friends, we've found closer theater groups that fit the bill. Looking forward to giving Pete the limelight he deserves.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...Both boys will attend camp this summer. Pete is scheduled for a two week theater camp and Pete will do two weeks at gymnastics. I have a lot of thinking to do about what I will do for two weeks. Oh the possibilities.

Workout - Day One

2011-04-21T12:29:00.000-04:00

Was a huge success for me. I didn't get up early like I wanted to but we managed to get to the gym just after 9am and the boys enjoyed their time in the I-Zone. I had them bring their DSi's just in case but they didn't need them.

I still need to track someone down who can give me the times that the campers and school kids are not invading the I-Zone. My kids are not able to do anything if those kids are in the room. It makes it 3:1 on the games. Not quite sure why they bring that many kids into that small room anyway. Two thirds of them plus the stragglers have to sit around waiting for a chance to play.

Anyway, I loved the variety in my workout and at the point I would have just stopped if on my own, I kept going to the suggested number of reps.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

~R

It's true. I'm lazy.

2011-04-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

I have been sorta, kinda working out. I've been watching yoga videos. I go for a walk every now and then. I've been trying to do Crossfit with BN even though it's too hard for me right now - BN says that's bull and he modifies all the workouts just for me.

But I don't want something modified for me. I don't want to workout in my garage in this heat. Spiders and dust and things oh my.

I want a workout that is just for me. Meaning in a climate controlled room. So I rejoined the Y thinking I'll just go back to doing the machines since they are dialed into me. They have the seat height, any leg adjustments and of course the current weight I am able to lift. And then there's all the cardio machines and cardio classes. Definitely more workout than I can ever hope to do.

But you know what? That bores me. Really plays to my lazy side.

So yesterday I was talking to one of the staff while I worked out and she told me about their newest program called FitQuest. And not only is it tailored to me, it also switches things up every day.

Every day, I get to do something new. And it doesn't only involve the FitLinx machines. It uses free weights - both barbell and dumbbell and it uses the pulley stuff and it uses floor exercises and more. It's like having a personal trainer without all the annoying pep talk.

I just printed my workout for tomorrow and I can't wait to do it.

I hope I stick with it. I want my waist back.

~R

and then it was almost May

2011-04-18T14:01:00.000-04:00

This month has escaped me. First, my grandmother was ill and the doctors released her to hospice care, so we all gathered in NC.

Then, two weeks later, my dad dialed 911 and was taken in for emergency surgery. My sister and I gathered our youngins and headed back to NC to check on him and make sure he was recovering. He has been recovering extremely well.

The next week, the doctors called to say my grandmother would be passing soon. I couldn't make this trip, but the boys and I stopped in to visit her last week when we visited my dad and I'm glad we did. She passed away on Saturday. Love you, Grandma.

****************************************************

Repete had a game on Saturday and he scored two goals. He gets so much joy from playing soccer. He smiles the entire time.

Saturday evening, with the threat of impending tornados, the boys participated in our homeschool co-op variety show. They both sang with their individual music classes. And while I knew that RePete was learning recorder in his music class, I had no idea that he knew Three Blind Mice and Mary Had a Little Lamb. What?

And Pete! He played drums. BN has given him a few lessons here at home, but Pete always complains that he is bored and just wants to play the drumset. (nevermind all the rudimentary learning that comes before that) But in his class he's been drumming to his own beat and he's good! He played the set during the recital.

The film teacher also showed bits and pieces of the kids' work in between live performances and Pete definitely has a knack for film-making. Really good stuff.

Those boys amaze me everyday.

Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-04-08T16:07:00.005-04:00

(I am not actually participating by linking up but wanted to provide the link in case you do!)

In my life this week...I'm grateful for my husband. He provides for us and encourages us.

In our homeschool this week...We've finished week 24 in our folders. I love being able to close a folder and know we've accomplished part of our homeschooling goals. It's always nice to check off lists.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...We have been in theater rehearsals all week. It really disrupts our routines. Dinner has been a disaster all week and since we don't like to eat out often, my body is begging for mercy. I definitely feel it when we eat out too much.

Today we participated in a Homeschool Day in Historic Isle of Wight, VA. The area is not far from us and though things historical are typically boring for the boys, they sort of enjoyed today. :o)

We toured St. Luke's Church (circa 1632) and its beautiful gothic architecture, visited the IOW Museum, became enthralled with Boykin's Tavern and got our energy out at Fort Boykin's Historical Park (Fort).

I really love it when a) the docents understand and accept that they have willingly invited children into an historic place and b) invests time in them. At the Boykins Tavern we first encountered the docent that scolded and ranted about not touching and then towards the end, we met a woman who not only knew that boys would want to see the innards of the seven-day grandfather clock but who then sat down on the benches, invited them over and filled them with images of life during the time period of the tavern. I have never seen my boys more attentive and filled with questions. She really made them think. She was a special lady and I made sure she knew it. The other one, eh, not so much.

My favorite thing this week was...the few precious moments we've been home. And the fact that Pete actually said, " I love this math." Gasp! We finished our units on decimals and fractions and I really felt like he needed some good review since I'll be skipping him into 7th grade math next year. We found Math Minutes (5th gr) at Barnes and Noble and it is excellent for our purposes.

What's working/not working for us...RePete's math. We've used a combo of Math Mammoth (1st) and MUS Alpha and he's not crazy about either method. So I've been printing free worksheets off the internet to continue covering skills I know he needs to master this year.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...I can't believe I am saying this, but after investing time and dollars in...drum roll please...Saxon, Right Start Math, Singapore, Math U See, and Math Mammoth, we are coming back full circle to Saxon. It just covers the materials best for my kids. They both prefer me teaching over watching videos and feel like they don't comprehend it enough to read it themselves and self-teach, and Saxon fits this style the best. So there we go. I've eaten all the words I said about Saxon and will be purchasing next year's materials soon. I'll also be skipping Pete ahead to 7th grade math since 6th and 7th are basically the same, we want him in Algebra by 8th grade and he can handle it.

What Did I Just Say

2011-04-06T12:26:00.000-04:00

I can't believe some of the things that come out of my mouth.

Like today, we were driving to the library and I actually said, "Boys, put those magnifying glasses away so you don't burn a hole in the seat."

They had been burning leaves with them right before we left, so I really felt like it was necessary.

And when did my boys start noticing boobs?

Here's a comic that RePete is working on. RePete is seven. Notice that even in profile, he draws them in and even gives them a lift while she's falling. Very realistic.

Love that attention to detail.

Giddy Gardener

2011-04-04T15:19:00.002-04:00

That's me. I love this time of year when we plant goodies in our garden. I love sitting on my deck and admiring our work. And watching things spring from the ground and grow.

Lots of things are coming up right now. I love when beans and legumes come up. The beans that we planted have split open and are growing what will eventually become the bush beans and limas. I love how the original bean tries to cling on for as long as possible.

One of the first things to break ground this year was our corn. It was a race against the squirrels and their voracious appetites and we won...this time.

And a little surprise was this tiny fellow.

Last year we tried to grow asparagus and we had these beautiful fern-like stalks that filled their little square. And that was about it. So in preparing the garden this year, I pulled the still beautiful fern-like growth out. I thought I got all the roots but gladly, I did not. I may have to pull out the silver to dine on this delicious little morsel. I think I'll designate a permanent location for asparagus now that I'm learning how it grows here.

~R, the Giddy Gardener.

My First Weekly Journal

2011-04-01T15:26:00.000-04:00

In my life this week...We spent time with family that I hadn't seen in a few years and a few that the boys had never met.

In our homeschool this week...Due to all the traveling and visiting, we decided to make this week our spring break. Love the flexibility of homeschooling.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...We traveled to North Carolina. My grandmother isn't doing so well and I wanted to make sure the boys got to see her one more time, just in case. Sadly, it does seem we don't get down there unless someone is ailing or departed. I'd like to work on this.

Pete got to see a cousin he hadn't seen since they were this big.

Pete (left) with his cousin and my aunt and uncle.

We also attended our weekly co-op and are sad that we only have two weeks remaining in the semester.

My favorite thing this week was... The pride RePete felt when he was cavity-free and able to have his picture taken for the "Smile Club" at the dentist yesterday. Poor little fella has had such a hard time with his baby teeth but thankfully his adult teeth are beautiful and healthy.

What's working/not working for us...I switched gears last week after some friends and I chatted at our monthly WTM meeting. I've decided to get back on course with Writing With Ease. I believe in the process but having to convince my boys that it is best has been hard.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...Looking forward to finishing our school year and gearing for the next. Spending a lot of time thinking about how I want our next year to look.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...I'd like to share a quote from Our Life in Words. The post is in my feed but not on her blog so I can't link. The post was on critical and higher order thinking and something I strive to teach to my boys. I would have loved to have been in that class with that teacher.

When I was in high school, I clearly remember Mrs. Leahy saying, "You can do the work and answer the questions and get an A. Or, you can read the work and think about it and form your own opinions and conclusions and challenge ideas and be an interesting person who goes places."

Why didn't I think of this?

2011-03-31T11:45:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I don't know where my brain is. I read Our Life in Words and love this weekly post. I don't feel like I have time right now to run around the blogsphere commenting on everyone's post - takes me back to Fun Monday - but I love the concept and think it's a perfect way to sum up our weekly homeschooling fun.

Here's the link for the meme, round robin, whatever it's called. And below are the points to consider each week.

In my life this week...

In our homeschool this week...

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

My favorite thing this week was...

What's working/not working for us...

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Thanks for a great idea.
~R

Science for Boys

2011-03-21T15:58:00.000-04:00

We are using several sources for science this year.

I downloaded Mr. Qs FREE Life Sciences program. The reading is easy with jokes throughout - perfect for my 11 year old's attention span. The labs are easy and fun and use mostly household items.

For the body portions of the book, I'm using some worksheets from The Human Body. It's created for a classroom setting, but we just use the diagrams.

Also from Teachers Created Resources, we use My Body. This one is for RePete. Pete used it back in first grade and really got a kick out of it. RePete loves it too and looks forward to this each day.

You start by tracing the child while he is lying down on craft paper. Big brother always like to help with anything that requires drawing.

This will cause lots of giggling.

Then each day, week, whatever you choose - the child colors the body organ while you read about it.

Finally, the part is cut out and taped or glued onto the drawn image like this.

We've only got a few organs left and we'll be done.

I'm really glad I found this resource and that the boys both enjoyed using it.

New Blog Motto

2011-03-15T09:26:00.002-04:00

I need a new one.

BN reminded me the other day after reading NASW that Kubi is dead.

My motto says "the cat is alive".

I'd be lying if I kept it up there.

Gardening 2011

2011-03-14T10:56:00.003-04:00

We are starting our third year of gardening. Every year we learn something new and we make changes or adjustments and hope for an even better crop the next time around.

YEAR ONE
YEAR TWO

We start by rereading sections in All New Square Foot Gardening

Then we inventory our seed packets and order new ones.

We prepare our beds by cleaning and sifting out debris and adding in new compost. Re-twining our square feet. And then BN and I sit down and decide what to plant and where it will go in the plot.

This year BN wanted to do the planting. It was fun to watch because he is always so precise about everything. Every hole was 3 times the size of the seed being planted. To each hole he added two, not three or one or five, but two seeds and finally the perfect smoothing of the dirt to cover.

And finally, we sit and wait.

Lego Storage, The Follow Up

2011-03-10T09:33:00.006-05:00

Did you know that I am an expert in Lego Storage and Organization?

Me neither!

But every day I get no less than 50 visitors to see my wonders. The rest of my drivel? Eh. Not so much.

THEN: If you remember this post, then let me update you. I'm still waiting on the whole cooperation thing. And we moved them back to the bigger bedroom not too long after. Smaller just meant momma gone mad.

NOW:

As you can see, it's still working - kind of. I won't swear everything is still all color coded. My boys have different ideas than I do when it comes to cleaning their room. If it fits, it goes there.

So if having a solution to the Lego chaos that is sort of working 2 years later makes me an expert then there ya go.

Baby LJ

2011-03-09T09:00:00.004-05:00

Remember a few months ago I threw a baby shower for my sister? Well, here's how my diaper cake turned out.

And here's the neck of the baby that wore those diapers.

Crystals

2011-03-08T09:50:00.001-05:00

For science today we made crystals.

I bought a science program (NOEO) several years ago and Pete didn't like it. So I sold all the books to our local homeschool store and kept the experiments kits.

While cleaning out the office closet, I found the kits. It's amazing what I found in there. Thankfully, nothing dead.

So anyway, we are making sugar crystals. Think rock candy. YES! Salt crystals and more salt crystals - one using baking soda and strings and the other growing dissolved salt on charcoal.

Here's how they look about 2 hours after we started.

Yeah, I know, don't fall over from all the excitement.

My sons are thrilled that they get to eat brown rock candy. No bright blues or reds or greens. Brown. That's organic sugar for ya.

~R

Busy times 'round here.

2011-03-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have a million things to do, but in reality, I only have a thousand.

First up on my list is to start back with the yoga. My sons and I laid back on the ottoman and let our heads hang to view the house differently. If you look at the ceiling while upside down long enough, it actually starts to look like a floor. Amazing.

But in the course of doing that, I almost couldn't get back up. My back seemed to have clinched itself into that position and while walking around staring at the sky is fun, after a while I think I'd get bored. Or wreck my van. Or get rain up my nose.

So it's time to limber up. Won't you join me?

~R

Americans are Gluttons

2011-02-24T09:51:00.001-05:00

At least that is what it said in the book. Or maybe that's just my take.

I was prowling over at OMSH and came across this book and decided to give it a read.

I think if you are educated, you already know what's in the book. The trend of our food supply becoming overly processed in the last 30 years. Food companies hiring scientists to find out how to make us eat more. The result: Americans getting fatter and fatter.

And then at the end he gives the solution which is basically to list the "hows" of breaking a habit.

I'm not saying this isn't a good book. I thought it well written and really sometimes we all need to hear it again. But I won't be buying it. I'll return this one to the library for someone else to read.

*That carrot cake on the cover looks divine.

"Borrowing" Books

2011-02-23T09:27:00.001-05:00

There are many ways to borrow books. From the library, from friends and from ski resorts.

Before our ski trip I bought a magazine, in other words, fluff reading for the fluff skier.

I read it before we left.

So the first day we were at Wintergreen, RePete and I returned to the condo after dinner and left the big boys to their night skiing. I put RePete in the "bubble bath", changed into something comfortable, clicked the television on the weather channel, RePete just loves Storm Stories, and then started exploring.

I don't know if the owners left random books on the shelves and in the cabinets or if other renters left their books behind, but I found one that looked interesting and started reading.

A cute, quirky, love story. Not complicated, not hot and steamy (it was written by a man, after all) and just perfect for sitting out by the slopes.

I wouldn't read this on a normal day - way too many other things to do instead - but stranded on the side of hill? Perfect.

*I'd to formally apologize to anyone renting the condo after us. I took it with me when we checked out so I could finish it. Now donating it to Friends of the Suffolk Library.

And Another Thing

2011-02-22T09:41:00.010-05:00

that bothers me in that picture is in the very, very back. See that light coming in at the bottom of the door.

That was Kubi's door. Kubi died this past November.

We need a new door.

~R

Do You See What I See?

2011-02-21T09:31:00.006-05:00

First. Let me set the stage. I finished breakfast, walked to the sink, used the dish brush to get rid of breakfast residue and placed my plate and fork in the dishwasher.

I left the blue-handled brush in the sink for ease of locating, left the dishwasher open and sat down at the computer.

Then my sons walked in.

I think you can see what bothers me about this photo.

But forget about what is on the counter. Do you see that fish painting on the far wall. RePete (age 7) did that. Just gorgeous. I look at that after I look at the counter and all is right with my world.

~R

Depends

2011-02-18T09:17:00.004-05:00

on what we're talking about.

I've decided that the real curse of having 9 and 10 pound babies is that I can't workout without peeing myself.

Last night, our Crossfit workout was double unders (jumping rope where the rope goes around twice between jumps) and sit-ups. 50-40-30-20-10

I did the first 50 jumps with no problem, then painstakingly got through my 50 sit-ups. Then the 40 round started and 10 jumps into it, I peed. Just a little but had to stop, go drain my bladder again, changed my panties and put on a liner.

Came back and finished the rest of the workout.

Doctor says my bladder has definitely dropped but apparently not enough for them to perform any kind of surgery on it unless I request it.

I'm starting to wonder if that is an option for me.

A few weeks ago, I walked up to the neighbors to get my boys home for dinner and decided to race them home. We're talking three houses down at an all out sprint. I won... but peed myself the whole way home.

~R

It's List Time

2011-02-17T09:43:00.002-05:00

It's time for me make a list. For whatever reason, the day goes by and I've done nothing outside the norm.

The norm being: cooking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning, running the boys to activities, cooking, cleaning, and catching up on Faceb00k.

Then I'm pooped so I sit down in my favorite spot and don't move until bedtime.

I have so many things swirling around in my head and with the nicer weather, I'm feeling like I can do anything.

So far the list is: Knitting projects, cleaning the office closet so that I can get to all my stuff for organizing my photos to digital scrapbook, ordering gardening seeds and buying compost tea (Because as usual, I didn't make a compost. Again.)

When I write that all down, it sounds so lame. Where did my life go? Oh well, with the sunshine comes renewed hope for more exciting adventures.

What are you doing to shake off the weather doldrums?

~R

Wordy Wednesday

2011-02-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

What can I say? I'm a rebel.

Do they even still do Wordless Wednesday? I think I tried once but still had to narrate a bit. It's an affliction of mine. I think it is called Talkitis, or something like that.

Anyhoo, our ski trip went wonderfully. Our boys are naturals. There, I said it. I bragged. But they really are. Poor Pete snowboarded and if you haven't done this, then know that you will fall a lot in the beginning. In fact, I'm pretty sure teaching you to fall is one of the first lessons. Well, I'm not sure at all and Pete just informed me that he wasn't taught to fall - it just came naturally. lol.

RePete took up skiing. Seeing him zooming by on short little skis with no poles just cracked me up. I asked his instructor when they recommend poles and he stated that he doesn't recommend them until one can ski a black diamond with proficiency. WHAT! And he didn't say "one". He's more of a "dude" kind of dude.

Okay so at least now I know why I suck at skiing. It's the poles. Next year - no poles. I'll let you know how that goes.

Here's a picture of me and my ski bunny.

Call Me Crazy

2011-02-10T09:45:00.001-05:00

but we're headed to the mountains this weekend. The very place I shredded my ACL a few years back.

However, this trip is for the boys. It'll be their first time on skis and snowboards. Pete wants to snowboard and RePete wants to ski so they'll be getting lessons on the first day.

I'll be fluff. I still don't think I've built my leg back up enough so I won't be skiing or snowboarding. Instead, I'll be following them to lessons, snapping photos and video and when BN takes them to the bunny slope, I'll be sipping cocoa in the lodge. Or maybe I'll go back to my nice comfy condo. Can you imagine being in a three bedroom condo at the top of a mountain without anyone making noises? I can.

I should insert RePete's evil laugh here. Moo haha He can't quite get the "wa" sound in there and it's hilarious.

It's a shame we'll only be there for one night. BN can't get any time off work right now and since we're taking our 16 yo nephew who would just hate to miss school (moo haha), we'll be arriving early Saturday and leaving around dinner time on Sunday.

And other than BN's guy trip to WVa to snowboard later in the month, this will be our last ski trip of the year.

Next year, I'm buying a snowboard. Reread the title.

~R