Homeschooler's Valentine's Day

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

Sweets from my Sweetie

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

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

Success!

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

The Tree is Up

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

Market Day

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

Thank You, Darling BN

Warning.  I am my usual random self today.

We braved the winter storm to visit my mother this past weekend.  She asked us not to come, but since she is prone to dramatics when it comes to weather, we decided to travel anyway.  It wasn't so bad on the way up.  VDOT was out doing a fairly good job.  It wasn't clear by any means but passable.  

We did have a slight slippedy slide when BN passed a tractor while going a little fast.  But he understands all that turn the wheel right when the ass slips left or maybe it is the reverse.  Anyway, he gets it and corrected like a pro.

She had close to a foot of snow upon arrival.  It snowed while we were there and by the time we left, VDOT was at home by the fireplace and we were in snow/ice up to our yingyangs.  Again, BN's mad skills behind the wheel got us home safely, although I think I had my first panic attack.

***

I started our way of list making when my oldest was about 3.  When the big toy catalogs come in the mail or Sunday paper, I let him cut out pictures of the things he liked and glue them to a piece of construction paper.  He loved doing this and I was actually able to find the things he wanted.  I've continued this for the past 7 years and my youngest makes one as well.

When Grandmas ask what to get the boys, I pull out the list and let them pick and choose.  So this past weekend we had Christmas at my moms.  When we returned home and the boys pulled out their goodies to play, RePete suddenly looked at me and asked to please remove this goody from his list.  He didn't want Santa to bring him the same item.  He's so thoughtful.

***

I rock at Spongebob Typing.  75 WPM.  Too bad I didn't know about blogging when I worked.  I think I could only do about 45 wpm back them.  I wonder if I can list Blogging under education on my resume.  Hmmm.

***

This is the first year we've been able to put presents under our Christmas tree.  I was always afraid the boys would open the presents (because Pete did many years ago) so we've always had an empty tree underneath.  Of course, none of the boys gifts are under there because BN believes they should wake up on Christmas morning to a magical wonder.  Oooo.  Ahhh.  He also believes we have to buy every stinkin' thing on their list.  The more the merrier and all that.

***

I've got to figure out how to take photos in the gym.  Pete started basketball and I can't have all his photos look like crap.

***

It's my first year not sending Christmas cards.  That month I lost after my knee surgery just messed me up.  It's during that month that I would  have made cards, extra handmade gifts, kids Christmas party and just all my planning.   Instead I was laid up or on crutches or just feeling tired.  What a difference two months makes.  I feel fantastic now, but alas it is too late to worry with cards.  Oh well.

Have a Great Christmas or whatever you celebrate.  Even Festivus!

~R