Girlfriends unite. Remind me of this post if I ever ever doubt our family's decision to homeschool.
Yesterday, I ran into M down the street. He is a very cool neighbor. His daughter L is one year younger than JM and they are good friends. It's a bummer if we start getting busy because the kids suddenly don't see each other.
Anyway, ran into him yesterday and L has started first grade at our local public school. Here is the scoop:
*It is a class of 30 students with no assistant for the teacher.
*It is a combined kingergarten/first grade class. So the teacher is teaching both kindergarten and first grade. Remember, kindergarten is where kids learn to read, first grade builds on that. She is teaching readers and non-readers, all by herself.
*Five of the kindergartners have never been to school before. They are freaking out, crying, not sure how to behave, etc.
*L many times is handed a worksheet and left on her own for long stretches of time. She gets very little help or instruction from the teacher.
I told M what we are doing and he said, "Well, lots of us parents are volunteering to help, and we are teaching L to be really self motivated."
Wow.......If I ever doubt our desire to do this, our desire to give our kids a good education within our means, please remind me of this post. In the words of Child of God, on our worst day, in my darkest moment of self doubt, JM is getting far superior of an education on that bad day than the best day of L's teacher. Why? Because on a bad day, we get at least four topics covered. Not one worksheet. We manage to get some instruction going, some interaction and discussion, not just a completed worksheet.
Sep 30, 2008
Sep 29, 2008
Pride and Prejudice
Okay, you may remember awhile back, Southern Oregon Tracy and I had a little blogger spar about which BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice" (P&P) was the best. I was at a disadvantage. I hadn't seen her favorite version, and she hadn't seen mine. We both loved each of our versions. We also added to the mix the recent Hollywood version, with Keira Knightley. She and I agreed to watch them all, and then see. She saw my version and we spoke about it awhile ago.
I am all caught up with my P&P viewing. Here are my thoughts:
1) I still love my version the best. It is the version with Colin Firth. Truly, the only reason, the cinematography. It is not set on a stage like the 1980 version that Tracy loves.
2) Tracy's version has tons of redeeming qualities. Foremost in my mind, the character development. Oh my gosh, the secondary characters are well developed and well understood. I truly believe that P&P would not be the extraordinary story without those secondary characters and story lines. I absolutely love the development of the sister who is the bookworm. Much better developed in Tracy's version than mine. In my version she is bookish and lacks confidence. In Tracy's version she is bookish and preachy, and it's much funnier and a better version of that sister.
Same for the Lady Catherine DeBerg character. Oh my! How incredible that character is developed. I don't like how the confrontation at the end between her and Elizabeth goes. It is a little too proper. In my favorite version it is quite heated and dramatic. I think in general, my version is a little less formal and has a lot more emotion and drama.
3) One point about the story is that Elizabeth is not as pretty as her sister Jane. Tracy says in my version Elizabeth is too pretty. I think in her version, Elizabeth is too pretty as well.
4) Wow, Mr. Darcy. The Mr. Darcy in Tracy's version is such a drill sergeant. Yes, I know Mr. Darcy is supposed to be a cold, distant, arrogant, etc. person. But my word! He is so extreme that it is almost unbelievable to me when he softens at the end. It is hard to believe him when he says his famous line at the end, "If you're feelings for me are the same.....as for me, mine are unchanged. One word from you will silence me forever." Really? I didn't believe it. But when he was in extreme mode, he was very believable and even more pompous and insulting.
5) How can you not love Colin Firth? Really. Need I say more?
6) Okay, I must say something about the two hour Keira Knightley version. Keep in mind, the two versions Tracy and I love are six hour miniseries. The Hollywood Keira version is two hours. There is barely any secondary character development, if any. If you don't know the whole story, those story lines are barely there and easily missed.
I do like the Mr. Darcy of this version, he is broody and surly. Yet, softens up well. I don't like the ending at all. I don't like that Lady Catherine DeBerg has her big spat with Elizabeth by intruding in her house in the middle of the night. Lady Catherine is a woman of higher standards than to visit commoners in the middle of the night for a verbal confrontation. Then Keira is so upset and goes walking in her nightie and just so happens to bump into Mr. Darcy? So many rules of decorum are broken for the dramatic effect. Nope. Sorry.
Anyway, I recommend both BBC versions. I like the late 80's one with Colin Firth the best. Tracy likes the 1980 BBC version best. We'll just have to agree to disagree.
I am all caught up with my P&P viewing. Here are my thoughts:
1) I still love my version the best. It is the version with Colin Firth. Truly, the only reason, the cinematography. It is not set on a stage like the 1980 version that Tracy loves.
2) Tracy's version has tons of redeeming qualities. Foremost in my mind, the character development. Oh my gosh, the secondary characters are well developed and well understood. I truly believe that P&P would not be the extraordinary story without those secondary characters and story lines. I absolutely love the development of the sister who is the bookworm. Much better developed in Tracy's version than mine. In my version she is bookish and lacks confidence. In Tracy's version she is bookish and preachy, and it's much funnier and a better version of that sister.
Same for the Lady Catherine DeBerg character. Oh my! How incredible that character is developed. I don't like how the confrontation at the end between her and Elizabeth goes. It is a little too proper. In my favorite version it is quite heated and dramatic. I think in general, my version is a little less formal and has a lot more emotion and drama.
3) One point about the story is that Elizabeth is not as pretty as her sister Jane. Tracy says in my version Elizabeth is too pretty. I think in her version, Elizabeth is too pretty as well.
4) Wow, Mr. Darcy. The Mr. Darcy in Tracy's version is such a drill sergeant. Yes, I know Mr. Darcy is supposed to be a cold, distant, arrogant, etc. person. But my word! He is so extreme that it is almost unbelievable to me when he softens at the end. It is hard to believe him when he says his famous line at the end, "If you're feelings for me are the same.....as for me, mine are unchanged. One word from you will silence me forever." Really? I didn't believe it. But when he was in extreme mode, he was very believable and even more pompous and insulting.
5) How can you not love Colin Firth? Really. Need I say more?
6) Okay, I must say something about the two hour Keira Knightley version. Keep in mind, the two versions Tracy and I love are six hour miniseries. The Hollywood Keira version is two hours. There is barely any secondary character development, if any. If you don't know the whole story, those story lines are barely there and easily missed.
I do like the Mr. Darcy of this version, he is broody and surly. Yet, softens up well. I don't like the ending at all. I don't like that Lady Catherine DeBerg has her big spat with Elizabeth by intruding in her house in the middle of the night. Lady Catherine is a woman of higher standards than to visit commoners in the middle of the night for a verbal confrontation. Then Keira is so upset and goes walking in her nightie and just so happens to bump into Mr. Darcy? So many rules of decorum are broken for the dramatic effect. Nope. Sorry.
Anyway, I recommend both BBC versions. I like the late 80's one with Colin Firth the best. Tracy likes the 1980 BBC version best. We'll just have to agree to disagree.
Sep 27, 2008
This Really Happened
I stopped at a rest area along the freeway on the way to a candle party. I don't usually stop at this rest area, mainly because there is a better place a few miles earlier. But in this situation, needed to stop. Yes, in my travels for my work, I am a rest area snob. I know most of them along all the freeways in my state. I also know where there are restrooms you may not know about.
So I am walking up the path to the ladies room. Laying on their backs in the sun on the sidewalk are two squirrels. Two things caught my eyes. First, I honestly thought they were dead because I have never seen squirrels sprawled out like that. I was ready to cut a wide path around the icky dead squirrels. The second thing I noticed, they were fat. I mean fat. I know this is the time of year squirrels start getting fattened up for winter, but these squirrels were fattened up by tourist's Cheezits. So, I am avoiding the two fat, dead squirrels.
Then, their heads poked up. Just like a sleepy person poking their head up when they awake. Scared the jeebers out of me! I cut my path wider to avoid them.
But, they wanted Cheezits. They never ran right run up to me, but they stayed right on my heels with that look of "Whatcha got? What is in your purse?" They almost followed me right into the ladies room. I was really prepared to punt kick a squirrel. They were right there. Not mean, but if they could charge admission to the restroom, they would and it would be graham crackers.
As I came out, and was heading towards my car, they were always right there. Then they watched me from the sidewalk get into my car, again with that look. "Is she opening the trunk? What she got?" They actually were peeking from behind a tree at me, just hoping.
Kinda freaked me out.
So I am walking up the path to the ladies room. Laying on their backs in the sun on the sidewalk are two squirrels. Two things caught my eyes. First, I honestly thought they were dead because I have never seen squirrels sprawled out like that. I was ready to cut a wide path around the icky dead squirrels. The second thing I noticed, they were fat. I mean fat. I know this is the time of year squirrels start getting fattened up for winter, but these squirrels were fattened up by tourist's Cheezits. So, I am avoiding the two fat, dead squirrels.
Then, their heads poked up. Just like a sleepy person poking their head up when they awake. Scared the jeebers out of me! I cut my path wider to avoid them.
But, they wanted Cheezits. They never ran right run up to me, but they stayed right on my heels with that look of "Whatcha got? What is in your purse?" They almost followed me right into the ladies room. I was really prepared to punt kick a squirrel. They were right there. Not mean, but if they could charge admission to the restroom, they would and it would be graham crackers.
As I came out, and was heading towards my car, they were always right there. Then they watched me from the sidewalk get into my car, again with that look. "Is she opening the trunk? What she got?" They actually were peeking from behind a tree at me, just hoping.
Kinda freaked me out.
Sep 24, 2008
It's the Green Thing Again
I did a post about a year ago about how I am liking the idea of being green. I have several reasons for this, and it's not political. My husband always goes off on how all the bad news is a farce, etc. I don't think it is, but oh well.
I don't like all the waste. Simple as that. Here is a little littany of that:
I don't like that when I open a child's toy out of a box, I have more paperboard, plastic and wires than the volume of the toy itself. When I was a kid, you bought a toy off the shelf, with no packaging. What happened to that? Watch old movies of kids purchasing toys at Christmas time, no packaging.
I don't like that all this waste just sits in landfills and doesn't break down. I don't mind using things that I know in less than my lifetime will look like earth. I do mind that all the plastic bags I get at the grocery store will live beyond my grandchildren.
I don't like that back in the eighties we, as consumers, were told those same plastic bags would save trees. I am more mad at myself for believing that pile of hooey. Trees are a renewable resource. Plastic bags are permanent.
I know plastic has a place in our ecosystem, but wasting plastic so it's easier to carry things to my car. It's wasteful and pointless. Plus, I hate them because they hold nothing, split easily, cut into my fingers, and are a pain to recycle when you get home.
I do like the idea of using reusable grocery bags. You know the fabric ones that everyone is selling now. I have a few, and I need to get a few more and keep them in our cars. I like those a lot.
I like that my company finally heard our complaints and is now stopping the use of styrofoam packing peanuts. What a nightmare that was! They are now using air pockets, which I know are housed in plastic. But what is worse than plastic? Styrofoam. I have been doing my business for eight years. how much packing peanuts I have gone through alone makes me feel guilty. In my feeble defense, I have a guy that I give all my peanuts to who runs an ebay business, so he reuses them, but where do they end up after that? My great grandchildren will let me know. The packing peanuts will still be around then.
I heard a political commercial yesterday that made me just want to scream it repeatedly off the top of the highest building in my city. Goes something like this "XXX years ago, a proposal to generate wave energy off the Pacific coast was in place. Environmental group ABC shut it down. YYY years ago, a proposal to use windpower to generate energy was shut down by CDE environmental group." And it listed about five different very effective petroleum fuel alternatives that I have been interested in seeing offered to the consumer. Interesting huh? I do agree with my husband on this one point. Environmentalists are not always the Birkenstock wearing, dread locks showing, tie dyed tshirted person. They are high powered, with lots of money and swing in politics. Yet, they shoot their own cause in the foot by fighting the very things that can further their cause. It's absolutely maddening.
Why am I more and more concerned? It's an election year, and the war is still raging. I have said it before, and I'll say it again. It is a war about oil. We cannot have dictators ruling the world's petroleum supply, and they do.
I have always said this, but not blogged it. The Middle East has the rest of the world by the neck. Just picture them holding the US's back against the wall with their hands over our Adam's apple. Why? Because they absolutely dictate our dependency on oil, and how much we pay for it.
I saw a headline in a political magazine back in May, and basically it was saying that the main guy (sorry, I don't remember his name, the rest of the headline just about made me choke) who decides the production of oil in the Middle East was quoted as saying "We will increase productions when the market warrants it." Of course all Americans are screaming, "Hello!"
But we forget. Look at it from their point of view. They have us by the neck, they have got us by our economy. I would be a fool if I didn't for one minute realize the powers that be in the Middle East realize that they can have one of the biggest transfers of wealth from Western Culture to the Middle East just in oil alone. And it's not going to be negotiated at the table of politics. It will be negotiated by the choke hold they have on us for oil. We need oil, they got it. One way to "get" America, cripple our economy. I think we can all agree, it's happening.
So, why do I want drilling in Alaska? Why do I want solar panels on my house? Why do I compost? Why do I want alternative fuel sources?
Because I love America. I don't want the great economic system, freedoms, and opportunities that we take for granted to be done. If me using no more plastic bags, etc. can help that, I am all for it.
I don't like all the waste. Simple as that. Here is a little littany of that:
I don't like that when I open a child's toy out of a box, I have more paperboard, plastic and wires than the volume of the toy itself. When I was a kid, you bought a toy off the shelf, with no packaging. What happened to that? Watch old movies of kids purchasing toys at Christmas time, no packaging.
I don't like that all this waste just sits in landfills and doesn't break down. I don't mind using things that I know in less than my lifetime will look like earth. I do mind that all the plastic bags I get at the grocery store will live beyond my grandchildren.
I don't like that back in the eighties we, as consumers, were told those same plastic bags would save trees. I am more mad at myself for believing that pile of hooey. Trees are a renewable resource. Plastic bags are permanent.
I know plastic has a place in our ecosystem, but wasting plastic so it's easier to carry things to my car. It's wasteful and pointless. Plus, I hate them because they hold nothing, split easily, cut into my fingers, and are a pain to recycle when you get home.
I do like the idea of using reusable grocery bags. You know the fabric ones that everyone is selling now. I have a few, and I need to get a few more and keep them in our cars. I like those a lot.
I like that my company finally heard our complaints and is now stopping the use of styrofoam packing peanuts. What a nightmare that was! They are now using air pockets, which I know are housed in plastic. But what is worse than plastic? Styrofoam. I have been doing my business for eight years. how much packing peanuts I have gone through alone makes me feel guilty. In my feeble defense, I have a guy that I give all my peanuts to who runs an ebay business, so he reuses them, but where do they end up after that? My great grandchildren will let me know. The packing peanuts will still be around then.
I heard a political commercial yesterday that made me just want to scream it repeatedly off the top of the highest building in my city. Goes something like this "XXX years ago, a proposal to generate wave energy off the Pacific coast was in place. Environmental group ABC shut it down. YYY years ago, a proposal to use windpower to generate energy was shut down by CDE environmental group." And it listed about five different very effective petroleum fuel alternatives that I have been interested in seeing offered to the consumer. Interesting huh? I do agree with my husband on this one point. Environmentalists are not always the Birkenstock wearing, dread locks showing, tie dyed tshirted person. They are high powered, with lots of money and swing in politics. Yet, they shoot their own cause in the foot by fighting the very things that can further their cause. It's absolutely maddening.
Why am I more and more concerned? It's an election year, and the war is still raging. I have said it before, and I'll say it again. It is a war about oil. We cannot have dictators ruling the world's petroleum supply, and they do.
I have always said this, but not blogged it. The Middle East has the rest of the world by the neck. Just picture them holding the US's back against the wall with their hands over our Adam's apple. Why? Because they absolutely dictate our dependency on oil, and how much we pay for it.
I saw a headline in a political magazine back in May, and basically it was saying that the main guy (sorry, I don't remember his name, the rest of the headline just about made me choke) who decides the production of oil in the Middle East was quoted as saying "We will increase productions when the market warrants it." Of course all Americans are screaming, "Hello!"
But we forget. Look at it from their point of view. They have us by the neck, they have got us by our economy. I would be a fool if I didn't for one minute realize the powers that be in the Middle East realize that they can have one of the biggest transfers of wealth from Western Culture to the Middle East just in oil alone. And it's not going to be negotiated at the table of politics. It will be negotiated by the choke hold they have on us for oil. We need oil, they got it. One way to "get" America, cripple our economy. I think we can all agree, it's happening.
So, why do I want drilling in Alaska? Why do I want solar panels on my house? Why do I compost? Why do I want alternative fuel sources?
Because I love America. I don't want the great economic system, freedoms, and opportunities that we take for granted to be done. If me using no more plastic bags, etc. can help that, I am all for it.
Sep 22, 2008
Good Discussion is Good for the Soul
Here is how it went with JM today. Remembering, we are getting back on track with our attitude this week.
Talking about how people do the most amazingly wrong things. Making wrong decisions that have serious consequences, yet if they had their head on straight, etc. We also had a discussion earlier in the week with a friend about how dumb sheep are, they need a shepherd or else they easily get themselves in trouble, and we as people are referred to as sheep in the Bible. Good discussion!
I started making the connection with JM that God has very much a parental role. He watches His children make mistakes He wishes they wouldn't make, but He can't stop them. Same for us parents, we honestly can't stop our kids from making mistakes, etc.
JM: So you still love me even when I mess up just like God loves us even when we mess up.
Me: Yes.
JM: Why does God love us? Oh I know! He loves those things He has created.
Yup, that about covers it.
Talking about how people do the most amazingly wrong things. Making wrong decisions that have serious consequences, yet if they had their head on straight, etc. We also had a discussion earlier in the week with a friend about how dumb sheep are, they need a shepherd or else they easily get themselves in trouble, and we as people are referred to as sheep in the Bible. Good discussion!
I started making the connection with JM that God has very much a parental role. He watches His children make mistakes He wishes they wouldn't make, but He can't stop them. Same for us parents, we honestly can't stop our kids from making mistakes, etc.
JM: So you still love me even when I mess up just like God loves us even when we mess up.
Me: Yes.
JM: Why does God love us? Oh I know! He loves those things He has created.
Yup, that about covers it.
Sep 21, 2008
And One More Layer of the Onion is Revealed
Homeschooling. As I talk to people who do it, and I know many, I see a running theme. It ain't for the faint at heart. I have talked to some who have stormed out of their homes and vowed to give it up. We have all hit our breaking points. It ain't easy, and I am only three weeks into this, and I am hitting that fearful stage.
We hit the wall this last week. JM hates school. Every kid hates school. But when a homeschooled kid hates school they take it out on their family in whatever way that family operates. So if you are trying to follow all the homeschool experts advice and keep school over here in the "school" category, and home over here in the "home" category, well the lines just got really blurry didn't they?
He refused, cried, yelled, insulted, and overall, had the nastiest attitude. Well, so much for us being ahead of the schedule we had going, we are now behind. On top of that, one lesson we had listed in our "overdue" lesson section was a long and hideous language arts lesson about how to dissect a story. Figure out the beginning, middle and end. How believable the characters are, how the action moves. Then culminated by the student writing their own story, and JM hates to write, plus up to this point all he has done is write answers on worksheets about stories. He is in no mood to write. Plus, he is normally a good reader, and he is sick of reading at this point as well. So all these silly exercises that really should have been divided a little better were now overdue.
I asked the husband (who has done a total of two math lessons thus far) to really delve into this lesson on Saturday while I juggle the other huge aspect in my life--running my business. I was busy on Saturday, and plunged into bed once I got home.
Did the lesson get done? No. Reviewed for the (overdue) math test and finished the (overdue) science lesson, but not this monster lesson in language arts. Hubbie agrees, this kid has the worst attitude.
I walk downstairs this morning and say good morning to my slice of sunshine. Honestly I always say good morning, because it is new, fresh and no carryovers from the day before right? Wrong. Got the sideways snarl in return.
Long talk with the kid, with hubbie in the room. We made it clear. This is it. You need to do this. He agreed to work on his attitude. I also said that he had work to do and was ahead. Now, because of his bad attitude, he has more work to do and is behind. He understood that.
Anyway, sat him down to do this silly math test, which I knew he would ace. The tears began. What?? He is really nervous and afraid, he explains. What if he fails? What if? Sob....what if? He has himself really worked up.
Keep in mind, his first test, he got a D. Why? Not because of him, but because MOM is still getting used to this whole set up and messed up. The teacher is aware of this, and I apologized to JM. But now I have him in a real stew.
Hubbie and I talked calmly about how it's okay if he misses some, it's hard to be perfect, we all miss some, just calm down, do your best, etc. We also explained because he had himself in such a tizzy, he would probably miss a few because he can't concentrate. Lord have mercy! The drama in the last few days has me looking for meds!
He took the test, which I should have just said was a worksheet, because it's everything he has been doing for the last few days, and it only had eleven questions. Easy! He missed one worth three points. Not bad, he got a 86.5 % on it, and you know what? We are happy with that. More importantly, he is happy with that, and it was great to see his sense of accomplishment in his face. I can see why teachers are addicted to watching kids grow in their learning.
It boosted him a bit, and we cranked out some more work for several hours until the hubbie was done. We got the hideous language arts lesson that was four pages of notes just for the instructor! Forget the many worksheets, reading, activities, etc. JM had to do.
Sigh......note to self, next time I am saying that is a math worksheet, not a math test. I really don't want to storm out of my house. If all it takes is for me to say "worksheet" instead of "test" to accomplish that, I will do it!
We hit the wall this last week. JM hates school. Every kid hates school. But when a homeschooled kid hates school they take it out on their family in whatever way that family operates. So if you are trying to follow all the homeschool experts advice and keep school over here in the "school" category, and home over here in the "home" category, well the lines just got really blurry didn't they?
He refused, cried, yelled, insulted, and overall, had the nastiest attitude. Well, so much for us being ahead of the schedule we had going, we are now behind. On top of that, one lesson we had listed in our "overdue" lesson section was a long and hideous language arts lesson about how to dissect a story. Figure out the beginning, middle and end. How believable the characters are, how the action moves. Then culminated by the student writing their own story, and JM hates to write, plus up to this point all he has done is write answers on worksheets about stories. He is in no mood to write. Plus, he is normally a good reader, and he is sick of reading at this point as well. So all these silly exercises that really should have been divided a little better were now overdue.
I asked the husband (who has done a total of two math lessons thus far) to really delve into this lesson on Saturday while I juggle the other huge aspect in my life--running my business. I was busy on Saturday, and plunged into bed once I got home.
Did the lesson get done? No. Reviewed for the (overdue) math test and finished the (overdue) science lesson, but not this monster lesson in language arts. Hubbie agrees, this kid has the worst attitude.
I walk downstairs this morning and say good morning to my slice of sunshine. Honestly I always say good morning, because it is new, fresh and no carryovers from the day before right? Wrong. Got the sideways snarl in return.
Long talk with the kid, with hubbie in the room. We made it clear. This is it. You need to do this. He agreed to work on his attitude. I also said that he had work to do and was ahead. Now, because of his bad attitude, he has more work to do and is behind. He understood that.
Anyway, sat him down to do this silly math test, which I knew he would ace. The tears began. What?? He is really nervous and afraid, he explains. What if he fails? What if? Sob....what if? He has himself really worked up.
Keep in mind, his first test, he got a D. Why? Not because of him, but because MOM is still getting used to this whole set up and messed up. The teacher is aware of this, and I apologized to JM. But now I have him in a real stew.
Hubbie and I talked calmly about how it's okay if he misses some, it's hard to be perfect, we all miss some, just calm down, do your best, etc. We also explained because he had himself in such a tizzy, he would probably miss a few because he can't concentrate. Lord have mercy! The drama in the last few days has me looking for meds!
He took the test, which I should have just said was a worksheet, because it's everything he has been doing for the last few days, and it only had eleven questions. Easy! He missed one worth three points. Not bad, he got a 86.5 % on it, and you know what? We are happy with that. More importantly, he is happy with that, and it was great to see his sense of accomplishment in his face. I can see why teachers are addicted to watching kids grow in their learning.
It boosted him a bit, and we cranked out some more work for several hours until the hubbie was done. We got the hideous language arts lesson that was four pages of notes just for the instructor! Forget the many worksheets, reading, activities, etc. JM had to do.
Sigh......note to self, next time I am saying that is a math worksheet, not a math test. I really don't want to storm out of my house. If all it takes is for me to say "worksheet" instead of "test" to accomplish that, I will do it!
Warm Welcomes
I want to draw your attention to the little section on the lower left. One of my most longtime friends has joined the blogging world. ES is now sharing her witty and real thoughts with us. Click on "Beth" and you'll go right on over.
I saw her a few nights ago, and went onto blogger to get her signed up. Everytime I asked her what she wanted to name it, we would go off on tangents. I think it took about one and a half hours to give the thing a title and come up with a web address.
So her first post is about her amazingly mature older daughter. I remember when that daughter was a bump on ES's tummy. Now she is a preteen, with long dancer's legs and amazing agility. As you can tell, she is doing quite nice at gymnastics.
Welcome! If you think of it, post a comment on her blog, and let her know you're with me.
I saw her a few nights ago, and went onto blogger to get her signed up. Everytime I asked her what she wanted to name it, we would go off on tangents. I think it took about one and a half hours to give the thing a title and come up with a web address.
So her first post is about her amazingly mature older daughter. I remember when that daughter was a bump on ES's tummy. Now she is a preteen, with long dancer's legs and amazing agility. As you can tell, she is doing quite nice at gymnastics.
Welcome! If you think of it, post a comment on her blog, and let her know you're with me.
Sep 17, 2008
Constitution Day
And today is Constitution Day at our little homeschool, and according to our lesson plan for the day.
Did a great lesson appropriate for second graders on what the Constitution is, the three branches of government, what they do, the Bill of Rights, etc. Had some great links to websites that had some fun activities. Fun!
We also had a lot of discussion. One of them focused on the Bill of Rights, and all the right to's we have as Americans that other countries don't have. Here is one of our conversations:
Me: JM, we have the right to bear arms. What do you think that means?
JM: The right to wear short sleeves?
Sep 16, 2008
More Birthday Aftermath
A good friend of mine was so sweet to remember my birthday a few days ago. She brought to church a gift bag of some great Bath and Bodyworks body lotion, body cream and body spray. Attached a card that made me cry and I loved it.
I brought it home and the scent of all of these things is Chocolate Amber. It's not foofy at all. It's a sultry, woodsy (here come my candle skills describing scents), with a touch of chocolate, but more like a vanilla. I like it! I like it a lot! I have worn it quite a bit!
I honestly think my husband will like it because it's not my typical foofy girly, flower scented lotion and potion I usually wear.
I go to bed on Sunday night, all lathered up in Chocolate Amber lotion. I am about three feet from my man, and I ask him what he thinks.
"Smells like bug spray."
Happy Birthday to me.
I brought it home and the scent of all of these things is Chocolate Amber. It's not foofy at all. It's a sultry, woodsy (here come my candle skills describing scents), with a touch of chocolate, but more like a vanilla. I like it! I like it a lot! I have worn it quite a bit!
I honestly think my husband will like it because it's not my typical foofy girly, flower scented lotion and potion I usually wear.
I go to bed on Sunday night, all lathered up in Chocolate Amber lotion. I am about three feet from my man, and I ask him what he thinks.
"Smells like bug spray."
Happy Birthday to me.
Sep 14, 2008
Got tagged!
I got tagged by Kim.
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. List 6 random facts about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by commenting on their blog
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog.
My six random facts about me:
1. I am a Republican in a largely vocal Democratic state. I have been targeted by people for sharing my views, hence I don't do it often anymore.
2. You know those optical illusions where if you stare at the myriad of small colors a picture emerges? They were big in the 90's. Remember those? Yeah, I can't do those. I have hideous eyesight corrected by contacts. My dad can't do them either for the same reason. I just end up staring at the colors for a silly amount of time accomplishing nothing but feeling silly.
3. I like Sarah Palin. Why? On simple reason, she is pro life and her life circumstances have tested that belief, and she still stuck to her convictions. She didn't have an abortion when told she was having a Down's Sydrome child, and a lot of people do. How many Down's Sydrome children have you seen lately? She didn't pressure her daughter to have an abortion, even though a teen pregnancy by her daughter could sabotage Sarah's political career. I have met Christian youth pastor's daughters who's fathers pressured them to have secret abortions because of the scandal it would cause the father's career. On that issue alone, I respect her. No matter what party, partisan, gender, sex, religion, ethnicity, oh my gosh, I haven't had this kind of a respect for a political figure in a long time.
4. I have piles of laundry that need to be folded. I feel a little guilty about it, but not too much. Then I would have to fold them.....not there yet.
5. I have never had a surgery of any kind. The only times I have been in a hospital was as a kid when I needed stitches a few times. I have never been hospitalized for anything. Now watch, I'll need an appendectomy next week.
6. I got carded today while buying beer. The sheer irony of that made me laugh until I was reminded I might be old enough to purchase Depends.
I would like to tag the Gorra's, Tracy G., and Melenie (because she hasn't posted since April the last time I tagged her!). I think that is all that I can do. Others have already been tagged or on their way out of the country! Tracy D!
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. List 6 random facts about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by commenting on their blog
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog.
My six random facts about me:
1. I am a Republican in a largely vocal Democratic state. I have been targeted by people for sharing my views, hence I don't do it often anymore.
2. You know those optical illusions where if you stare at the myriad of small colors a picture emerges? They were big in the 90's. Remember those? Yeah, I can't do those. I have hideous eyesight corrected by contacts. My dad can't do them either for the same reason. I just end up staring at the colors for a silly amount of time accomplishing nothing but feeling silly.
3. I like Sarah Palin. Why? On simple reason, she is pro life and her life circumstances have tested that belief, and she still stuck to her convictions. She didn't have an abortion when told she was having a Down's Sydrome child, and a lot of people do. How many Down's Sydrome children have you seen lately? She didn't pressure her daughter to have an abortion, even though a teen pregnancy by her daughter could sabotage Sarah's political career. I have met Christian youth pastor's daughters who's fathers pressured them to have secret abortions because of the scandal it would cause the father's career. On that issue alone, I respect her. No matter what party, partisan, gender, sex, religion, ethnicity, oh my gosh, I haven't had this kind of a respect for a political figure in a long time.
4. I have piles of laundry that need to be folded. I feel a little guilty about it, but not too much. Then I would have to fold them.....not there yet.
5. I have never had a surgery of any kind. The only times I have been in a hospital was as a kid when I needed stitches a few times. I have never been hospitalized for anything. Now watch, I'll need an appendectomy next week.
6. I got carded today while buying beer. The sheer irony of that made me laugh until I was reminded I might be old enough to purchase Depends.
I would like to tag the Gorra's, Tracy G., and Melenie (because she hasn't posted since April the last time I tagged her!). I think that is all that I can do. Others have already been tagged or on their way out of the country! Tracy D!
Sep 12, 2008
Sigh.....
Sep 11, 2008
Reflections on Homeschooling So Far
So far, this week has been better. Here is what I have realized so far.
1) My kids need a good night sleep. I try to get school started at 8 a.m. If they haven't slept, well then we have yawning, bleary eyed, non focused students.
2) JM has surprised me this week. He is not a self motivated kid. He has always needed lots of prodding to do things. I have dreaded in the last day or so this huge project of writing a composition. It requires him to think up a topic, organize it, and (*gulp*) write sentences. I don't know what angel came and tapped him on the shoulder, but he is finally doing it without me being heavy handed. We did some editing on it today and will finish it tomorrow.
3) I am sure most homeschool parents would agree, you need to find your kid's "handles". Those things about them you can grab onto and use to your benefit. I found one. Several months ago, I found dry erase boards that are lap sized and have pre written lines on them to practice writing. After several days of prodding through writing, I brought the dry erase out today. I required JM to practice writing before working on his composition. He loved using the dry erase. Nice! I like not wasting so much paper. The dry erase lapboards will be used daily.
4) I have already mentioned how much craigslist has helped us so far. The picture is our latest. It's a keyboard to start piano lessons next week. I took my fingers nails and a cleaner to it today. It was dusty! It had been stored in a garage or attic because there was dust in every nook and cranny, and trust me, there are a lot of those on that thing.
I also scored a globe today. We are working on quite a bit of geography, and needing to discuss the relief features of maps, the bumps and grooves showing mountains and valleys. Well, the education store near us has them for like $50 with pimples and dimples for mountains and valleys. I found one on craigslist that has serious mountains and valleys, a special edition one made by Reader's Digest, for $20. We'll be picking that up tonight.
5) JM's math is a non issue. So much consternation about his math last year from his teacher, and his lack of being able to sit still and do it. After a week of realizing it isn't hard, this is a different curriculum, it's bite sized chunks, and mom won't move on until you have finished. We are doing fine. We get it done quickly, first thing, and he is doing well. More importantly, he is feeling confident in his math, which was not the case last year. I totally think it was the weird curriculum she was using.
6) I am saying this to a friend of mine who will probably read this. Her son, I believe is in kindergarten. She reminds me so much of me when JM was in kindergarten. I was so on the fence if this was something we could do. So far, only a few days in, we are doing fine. JM is learning, I am learning, and we are done with school by just after lunch time. His math is excelling, which it wasn't in school. His reading got rusty over the summer, and we are working on that. But so far, I am feeling pretty good about this.
7) Recess. I figured out today. We all need recess. Send them outside to play on the trampoline! That has been great. It gets the wiggles that little boys have out of their system.
8) Talking about science and geography the other day. We were talking about how God speaks mountains into existence.
JM: Really? Wow! Wait! I just thought of something God didn't create.
Me: What?
JM: No, wait, He did. But he didn't make.....no, wait He did that too. (pause) Hmmmm....God created everything huh Mom?
Me: Yup.
Sep 8, 2008
Our Latest Acquisitions and Other Worthy Updates
I love craigslist!
I realized a few weeks ago after having a friend who has a trampoline babysit my kids, that I want one of them! Why? They fell asleep immediately after getting in the car and they slept like rocks for the next two nights. I want one! We got one for $60.00 on craigslist.
After our trip to Colorado, and listening to JM on a friend's piano, I realized we need to do piano lessons. When I was seven, I pounded on pianos, and didn't do much for anyone's mood. JM on the other hand, really tries to make music, and you can hear his purpose in his pounding.
Piano lessons! Scored a keyboard for $100.00 today. We also interviewed our piano teacher, and she very much approves of our acquisition. Lessons start next week.
BH's first day of preschool. Play Doh, you can't beat it!
Is he levitating? No.
Soccer season has begun, and here is JM going head to head with his coach.
I realized a few weeks ago after having a friend who has a trampoline babysit my kids, that I want one of them! Why? They fell asleep immediately after getting in the car and they slept like rocks for the next two nights. I want one! We got one for $60.00 on craigslist.
After our trip to Colorado, and listening to JM on a friend's piano, I realized we need to do piano lessons. When I was seven, I pounded on pianos, and didn't do much for anyone's mood. JM on the other hand, really tries to make music, and you can hear his purpose in his pounding.
Piano lessons! Scored a keyboard for $100.00 today. We also interviewed our piano teacher, and she very much approves of our acquisition. Lessons start next week.
BH's first day of preschool. Play Doh, you can't beat it!
Is he levitating? No.
Soccer season has begun, and here is JM going head to head with his coach. Sep 6, 2008
Our First Week
Many of you have asked, how has our first week of Connections Academy gone?
Good! At least I think so, my son might say differently. Here is what I have noticed:
1) JM struggled in math last year. His teacher made that apparent to us. She was also trying out a new curriculum that was definitely more huge ideas, and big picture of math. I got frustrated because JM just needed to learn what three plus two was. She also kept discouraging me from teaching him math facts. "Studies have shown......".
So, as we have sat down and done math, I have noticed that JM just sits and dilly dallies. I had a pretty good idea that would happen. What he did last year was this--sit and dilly dally during math to the point the teacher would just move on and not wait for him. Of course, she has a whole class to move forward, she can't wait while JM plays drums with his pencils. But he got out of math by doing that, and he knew it.
Now, JM is realizing, I am patient. We will spend two hours doing a math sheet. We won't move on until it's done. Mom will take away the pencils so they can't be drummed with.
2) I love love love love love the math curriculum. Connections Academy uses Calvert Math, which is a prestigious homeschool math program. Why do I love it? It is math facts and big ideas of math. It is an integration and JM is getting it, and isn't so frustrated.
3) I have also noticed that JM can do math. He knows his math facts. He knows how to manipulate numbers, I just think the curriculum she was using last year was too weird. I really do.
4) JM loves to read, loves to write things down, loves to do science. We have had some fun moments doing the projects and things assigned in these areas.
5) JM gets PE credit for playing soccer and participating in Skate Church. Nice! He also got credit for our trip last week to Cripple Creek where we learned about miners and prospectors, donkeys and trains. That was very nice!
5) I used to have breaks in my day. No more. If I am not doing school, I am doing my candle business. And there is nothing in the middle. No break.
6) BH started preschool this week, and he loves it. At first he was balking, but now he loves it, and loves his new friends.
7) BH, because it was his first week of school, now has a nasty cough, runny nose and congestion.
The school year has begun!
Good! At least I think so, my son might say differently. Here is what I have noticed:
1) JM struggled in math last year. His teacher made that apparent to us. She was also trying out a new curriculum that was definitely more huge ideas, and big picture of math. I got frustrated because JM just needed to learn what three plus two was. She also kept discouraging me from teaching him math facts. "Studies have shown......".
So, as we have sat down and done math, I have noticed that JM just sits and dilly dallies. I had a pretty good idea that would happen. What he did last year was this--sit and dilly dally during math to the point the teacher would just move on and not wait for him. Of course, she has a whole class to move forward, she can't wait while JM plays drums with his pencils. But he got out of math by doing that, and he knew it.
Now, JM is realizing, I am patient. We will spend two hours doing a math sheet. We won't move on until it's done. Mom will take away the pencils so they can't be drummed with.
2) I love love love love love the math curriculum. Connections Academy uses Calvert Math, which is a prestigious homeschool math program. Why do I love it? It is math facts and big ideas of math. It is an integration and JM is getting it, and isn't so frustrated.
3) I have also noticed that JM can do math. He knows his math facts. He knows how to manipulate numbers, I just think the curriculum she was using last year was too weird. I really do.
4) JM loves to read, loves to write things down, loves to do science. We have had some fun moments doing the projects and things assigned in these areas.
5) JM gets PE credit for playing soccer and participating in Skate Church. Nice! He also got credit for our trip last week to Cripple Creek where we learned about miners and prospectors, donkeys and trains. That was very nice!
5) I used to have breaks in my day. No more. If I am not doing school, I am doing my candle business. And there is nothing in the middle. No break.
6) BH started preschool this week, and he loves it. At first he was balking, but now he loves it, and loves his new friends.
7) BH, because it was his first week of school, now has a nasty cough, runny nose and congestion.
The school year has begun!
Sep 5, 2008
Dr. Susan Anderson
Who is she? I had never heard of her until my return trip to Colorado. Keep in mind, I grew up there. I have been all over the Rocky Mountains camping, fishing, backpacking, and skiing.
Never heard of her until two weeks ago.
She was a doctor in Fraser, CO. She ended up in Colorado as a child when her father divorced (in those days, scandalous) her mother and moved the children to Cripple Creek, CO during the huge gold rush of 1892. He made his fortune no as a prospector, but as a business man. Her father remarried, and decided both of his children should get educated, and sent her to Michigan to become a doctor. It also got Susan away from the new step mother. They did not like each other at all.
After contracting TB, Susan came back to Colorado to nurse her lungs. Many TB patients came for that reason. High altitude and cold air seemed to do the trick. She moved around a bit after finding no jobs as a doctor, and landed in Fraser, where she stayed until close to her death in 1960. She was not immediately accepted as s doctor. Women aren't doctors, you know. But when the other two town doctors were unavailable, and someone had fallen off a horse and broken their arm, that didn't seem to matter suddenly. Slowly but surely, she developed her practice. Mostly on injured loggers, farmers, and miners. Fraser is a distance and a tedious railroad ride from Cripple Creek.
She ended up being a respected doctor to the town of Fraser, when women could not vote. She never married. Although her father thwarted a marriage in Cripple Creek, and her groom left her at the altar. Her brother also died of pneumonia in Cripple Creek after her father delayed getting any help. Cripple Creek didn't have great memories for her, except her brother was buried there.
One of her dying wishes was to be buried next to her brother. When 1960 came around, attempts were made to find her brother's burial site in Cripple Creek. But the Mt. Pisgah cemetary was a shambles. She is buried there, though not directly next to her brother.
Today, historians are making huge attempts to clean up the cemetary. Identify occupants, and honor those who are there.
So while we were there, we visited her grave. I also picked up her biography "Doc Susie: The True Story of a Country Physician in the Colorado Rockies". I am riveted by it.
So the next time you watch a rerun of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman". Just remember Doc Susie.
Sep 2, 2008
Highlights of Our Colorado Trip
I will be giving some explanations of some of the bigger highlights later. Like what is in that box of stuffed animals? Hmmm....Or who is Dr. Susan Anderson? Very amazing woman. Or some of the new history I learned and never knew even though I spent most of the first 18 years of my life in Colorado.
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