I don't get it...



On Saturday, Rylan and I made a quick visit to the library to grab a couple of books.  She requested a video, so we checked out the movies in the children's section.  We have watched most of the them, but I spied a title that we had yet to see: Where the Wild Things Are.  I would like the Universe to know that, in the future, I would appreciate a little more guidance when it comes to picking out movies, because this one just sucked all life out of the room and left us confused and feeling sad that we had just wasted away some very precious minutes of our life watching something so completely pointless.

Oh I know...  "It's art".  "It's an expression of how difficult the transition is from childhood to adolescence".  "It's a boy trying to sort out some very intense feelings".  Blah, blah, blah.  It's either some screenwriters on a really bad acid trip, or a sad attempt to work out some long over-due childhood issues.  It is by far the worst film adaptation I have ever seen of a children's book.  Children will not understand this movie.  I'm an adult and I don't even understand it.  It's violent, sadistic and depressing.

Now for the good parts.   The cinematography is beautiful. (like the image above, for example).  Jim Henson's Creature Shop did an amazing job with the costumes.  I love the character of Judith.  She has a wicked dark side and I actually found her quite funny.  I also sort of like the randomness of some of the parts.  Like the giant sheepdog running through the desert, or the two owls - Bob and Terry, who get knocked out of the sky by KW.  Sometimes, if you are in the right frame of mind, random sh!t like that is hilarious.  But not in the middle of the afternoon, when you are watching it with your 5 and 11 year old, and they are lost and confused about what is going on.

Jordan requested multiple times that we just turn it off.  He got especially upset when Carol (the main Wild Thing), ripped off the wing of Douglas (the bird).  A whole bunch of sand poured forth from the gaping wound as he did so.  Jordan was up and out of the room at that point... and Rylan was non-plussed.  I thought it was absolutely unnecessary to include a scene like that.  You're marketing this film to kids, remember?  How many dirt clod wars has this movie spurred on - and how many kids went to the emergency room with head injuries because of it???  I do have to say that in the later scenes, whenever you see Douglas, it's pretty funny that he used a spindly little stick as a replacement for his wing.  Sick and wrong, yes.... but funny all the same.

To add to our misery of the day, Rylan chose (from among her library books) a book called Thirteen Words by Lemony Snicket as her bedtime story.  I have not read any of Lemony Snicket's other stuff, as of yet.  I do have the entire selection of A Series of Unfortunate Events left over from my classroom days.  Jordan has yet to show any interest in reading them - which may be a good thing since I hear the storyline is dark and has questionable subject matter.  This particular book that Rylan picked out - a picture book, was just released in 2010.  Again - flowery reviews about the ingenuity of the writing and stunning artwork.  For me, it just left me confused all over again.  I don't get it.  Rylan thought parts of it were funny - so maybe to just read it through a child's eyes is what you need to do.

Here is what I think happened when this book came to fruition.  I think Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) took a bar bet.  Someone wrote down a list of 13 random words and bet him that he couldn't make a story out of them.  I guess you could say that he won - because he did write a story...per se.  Unfortunately it doesn't make any sense.  This experience, however, is not a total loss.  It gave me the idea that this could be a fun and creative writing/dictation assignment for Jordan and Rylan.  Jordan can write his story, and Rylan can tell me hers (and I'll write it down) and see what they come up with.  I'll use the same list of words, but have them work on this separately, and then read their stories aloud at dinner.  Hmmmm  (wheels are turning...)

One more aside that could fit here under the 'I don't get it" heading...

Last Saturday Rylan and I were out selling cookies.  We were walking down one side of the street, while two sisters were riding their bikes down the other side.  A fight broke out between the two, and the little sister stormed off down the street.  Big sister goes into their house and informs their mom that the little sister is 'running away'.   Mom comes out and yells at the little sister to come back.  Little sister keeps on walking, claiming that big sister is too mean.  Mom takes off after her, yelling all the while.  She threatens that she will call the police and report the little sister as a runaway.  She repeats this threat about three more times.  Little sister just keeps on walking/crying/screaming "NO! I won't come back!".

Rylan just watches this whole event unfold, amazed.  (Under my breath) I inform Rylan that the mother made a bad choice in telling her daughter that she was going to call the police.  That implies the little girl is a 'bad' girl and that the police are something to fear.  What a screwed-up message!  The mother doesn't even hear what the little sister is trying to tell her - that the big sister is being mean to her.  I hate that Rylan saw this ugly scene, but it was a good chance to have a discussion about:

* don't run away from your problems

* don't run away PERIOD

* The police are in our community to help us, not punish us

* don't threaten your family members - love them enough to listen

I just don't get it when parents act like that.  I grieve for this little girl and the amount of therapy that she will need in the future.

So.  For today's agenda... a little less culture (movies and books) and a little more nature.  That ought to set the world right.



Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

Okay.  Hair pulled back in a ponytail, tall mug of hot coffee and headphones are in.  Let's do this!  My thoughts are so jumbled and running wild with emotion... I need some framework so that I can keep my tone in check.  Hence...

Outside my window...   Dang!  Front shades are closed.  Just a sec....  I see three mommas with their kids walking a combined total of four dogs.  It is such a nice, mild sunny day.

I am thinking...  A number of things and most of them are about unpleasant shtuff.

I have come to the conclusion that I am not very good at sharing.


1. I was on my cell phone with my husband yesterday, as Rylan and I were leaving a neighborhood after wandering around selling GS cookies.  I noticed a mom and daughter, with a wagon loaded with cookie boxes, knock on a door of a house that we had already hit - (but nobody answered our knock).  I saw the front door open as we drove by, and I unleashed a verbal tirade about what I was seeing into the phone and that didn't make me sound very grown-up - especially when my own daughter was in the backseat, listening.  I need to remember that my daughter isn't the only girl out there, selling.  Share!

2. I ate the last Thin Mints in the box.  And I didn't feel guilty when I told the kids they were all gone.  Um... do I have to share?

I am thankful... For good friends who are willing to listen to me as I sort out my interpersonal issues.

 
From the Learning Rooms... We did a reasonable amount of schoolwork this week, until Friday hit.  That day I had the pleasure of spending an absolutely unreasonable amount of time stewing and sorting out issues that as of yet remain unresolved.  School cannot take a backseat to this kind of crap.  I'm really mad at myself that I cannot find a way to say what I need to say and get this business dealt with once and for all.


In the kitchen... I made some orange-cranberry muffins earlier this week.  I have two bags of cranberries in the freezer that I threw in there (last November!!), so I was thrilled to find a way to use them.  The recipe showed up on my Facebook feed from Taste of Home.  I left the computer, and 27 minutes later we were enjoying the muffins.  Everyone except Owen.  He picked out the 'yucky red things'.

I am wearing...  (too embarrassed to say)  okay, okay.... pjs?


I am creating... still working on the birthday placemat. I had an epiphany that felt will come in handy. Can't wait to start working on this tomorrow. This upcoming week is our 'off' week, so I have all week to play with it.

I am going... Where else?  Out to sell cookies in little bit.  Such is my life right now.  At least it is a sunny day.


I am wondering... Why, why, why can't people proofread their posts, texts and so forth? Even in their email program - where they have a spell-check available, do they not use it? So. annoying.  What is even worse is when the mistakes are made by a homeschooling parent.  If you are your child's principal teacher, it conveys a negative image about all homeschoolers when you use bad grammar, incorrect spelling and horrific punctuation - especially when you are communicating with other adults and your email is meant to disseminate important information.  Gee whiz... write like an adult pleze!

I am reading... The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Sink Reflections


I am hoping... For wisdom


I am looking forward to... Next weekend - My baby turns two!!!  No.  Wait.  I am not looking forward to my baby turning two.  I will rock this little boy to sleep every chance I get this upcoming year, because the holding, cuddling and rocking will soon come to an end.  He is already talking in sentences.  I am not ready for this.

I am learning... I just figured out some of the settings on my iPhone.  I was wondering why I wasn't receiving some alerts in a reminder app (Jog My Memory) that I had installed months ago.  I also just discovered the pull-down 'shade' that lists all notifications.  I am an idiot.  Technology is not one of my strong-points.  I am also investigating Pinterest.  Not enough time in the Universe right now, for something like that.... I'll just leave it to my friends to funnel good things my way!  (Thanks Shawn!)


I am hearing... George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice, Vol 1 on my headphones. This is one of my go-to albums for background music for writing. Despite having headphones on right now, I can hear that the kids are playing with the vacuum. Let's just assume it is Colin, and move on with this missive.


Around the house... "off week" this week!  Lots of prep work for Dean and Jordan this week, as they prepare for the boy scout Klondike campout this upcoming weekend. Today we are sorting through the camping gear and getting it stored away again in the basement.  It is currently in the garage, and in very real danger of getting run over by the van when I pull it into the garage, if I am not careful.  Which is most of the time.

I am pondering... Why speaking up for yourself can be so hard.  Be kind to yourself.  If a situation grows so uncomfortable, you need to look our for yourself and diffuse it.  It's just the doing it that is so hard.  I don't like confrontation.


One of my favorite things... This music.  I haven't had the pleasure of hearing this whole album in several years.  Headphones are a luxury in my life right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Finish the birthday placemat for Colin.  Get the camping gear packed up.  Send the boys on their way on Friday, and enjoy pizza with the little kids that night and play some games.  Saturday will be a fun, low-key day and an early bedtime so I can enjoy a chickflick I've DVR'ed for just such an occasion.  I have How to Make and American Quilt and Eat, Pray, Love  to choose from.  Sunday is Colin's second birthday.  We are going to the aquarium and then out to dinner with family.  It sucks that it coincides with the SuperBowl, but since the Broncos aren't in it, I don't really care.  We'll record it on the DVR and enjoy the commercials later.


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Jordan took this picture two weeks ago, using his new camera.  I love the tilt-shift effect.

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Seeing stars

Yesterday, Monday, was Art time.  Another one of my New Year's Intentions is to increase the amount of time we spend on art.  Considering in the past two years we were averaging 1, maybe 2 art projects a year... anything will be an improvement. 

A long, long time ago I purchased one single unit of Meet The Masters from Rainbow Resource.  I think it was something like $27 at the time.  I got the very first one, 'Track A', Ages 5-7.  The entire program consists of Tracks A, B and C - with 3 units (7 artists and techniques are profiled in each unit) each, so there are 9 units all together.  If you purchased all nine, you're talking about a $300 commitment.  So I just bought the first one to see what it was like.  Homeschool Buyer's Co-op does feature a deal from Meet the Masters every once in awhile.

I really do like it.  It only took us about a year to complete the very first project.  I really am lame when it comes to art, and I have no idea why.  I love doing art.  I don't mind the mess.  I am just the queen of getting side-tracked by all the other things that come up in life...

The first project that took us so long to complete was Van Gogh's The Starry Night.  This really is one of my all-time favorite paintings.  We watched the online presentation about Van Gogh and his life as an artist, that comes as part of the curriculum.  We learned about texture and practiced making drawings using different kinds of texture.  The we practiced making spirals and concentric circles.  Finally, we were ready to make our own versions of The Starry Night, using oil pastels on black construction paper.

Here are the final results:

Rylan

Jordan

Mine



I have found that sitting at the kitchen table during a sunny afternoon, with soft music playing in the background (yes, we listened to Don McLean's Vincent... several times over!) and painting/drawing/sculpting with the kids to be one of the most pleasant and therapeutic activities in recent memory.  We will be doing this much more often - it was just so "nice".

I found that as I was listening to the music, I was transported back in time to my high school Humanities Class.  I can remembering picking apart the lyrics of Vincent as part of our studies of Van Gogh.  I also tried to recall art classes during my school years.  I can't remember a thing!   I remember my elementary art teacher's name, I can recall sitting at an art table in Jr. High drawing with pencils, and making Raku pots in Humanities in high school.  That's it.  That's sad!!  I am so thankful that the Meet the Masters program gives some detailed instructions about what we are to do - I could not do this otherwise!

We did learn some interesting facts about Vincent Van Gogh. 

* He was interested in art all of his life, but he only painted during the last ten years.
* Van Gogh produced around 2100 works of art during those ten years.
* Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime - The Red Vinyard, for about $80
* Self-Portrait Without Beard is one of the most expensive paintings sold in all time - it sold for $71.5 million in 1998.

We also went on a virtual field trip to 'see' The Starry Night, where it hangs on a 5th floor gallery wall, at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC through The Google Art Project.  This link will take to you to the exact painting, and will allow you to zoom in so close you can see actual brush strokes, the weave of the canvas and small cracks in the paint.  At the top left of the page, you see two drop boxes - one that indicates you are looking at The Starry Night painting, and the other indicates that you are currently in MoMA.  Click on the MoMA box, and you will 'back out of the painting' and will once again be standing in the gallery.  Now you can move about the entire gallery and look at other pieces of artwork.  You can click on other paintings, and learn all about the artist that made them.  We explored MoMA for a good thirty minutes. Jordan also figured out that you could exit the museum (through the entry/exit doors) and then look around on the city streets outside the museum.  When I was showing Dean the site last night, we left the museum and then actually got lost on the streets of NYC.  Even if we left the page and came back, if we clicked on MoMA, we were still sitting at the same intersection as before.  We had to look up the address of MoMA and read the street signs to navigate our way back.  It was funny, weird and exasperating all at the same time.

So, if you have some time to spare, explore the museum - it's fascinating!  And then, go and explore the several other museums around the world that are a part of the Google Art Project.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if they had the Louvre? 

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... A windy cold day.  Today is the day we start selling Girl Scout Cookies door-to-door.  I am not looking forward to this.

I am thinking... I am very troubled by some behind-the-scenes bickering going on in our homeschool group.  One individual in particular is making life rather unpleasant for the group.  I wanted to avoid things all political, but that isn't happening.  I keep getting sucked in even though I have nothing to say about the subject.

I am thankful... That my husband has the know-how about fixing all things electrical.  Last Monday we figured out that the dryer's heating element was broken.  He pulled out the dryer, located the broken part, purchased a new one, replaced it, cleaned out the dryer vent and put it all back together in just a couple of hours.  It saved us from a massive repair bill.  I am so very, very thankful that he has the skills to do this.  I hope our kids continue to watch and learn - it is such an awesome thing to be able to repair things yourself.


From the Learning Rooms... We have had a pretty standard week.  We had some fun on Wednesday building stomp rockets, and we've signed up for our homeschool group's Science Fair in March.


In the kitchen... Pancakes as soon as I am done with this!

I am wearing... I am dressed for the day already.  Standard sweater, jeans and sneakers. 


I am creating...  A quilted birthday placemat for Colin. It will be an aquarium theme. I picked out a blue watercolor background yesterday at the fabric store. Today I will search through all of my greens to find what I want to use for seaweed.  I also created a new blog this past week.  Check it out!

I am going... With Rylan in just a few minutes down to our church (well, okay - after pancakes) to drop off five boxes of Girl Scout cookies that her grandparents wanted her to donate to homeless families.  Our church is hosting IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network) this week.  All week homeless families will be spending the night at our church, and volunteers come to cook dinner and play with the kids during the evening.



I am wondering...  How on Earth any person could think that Newt Gingrich is a respectable individual?  What is South Carolina thinking???

I am reading... The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson.

I am hoping... That the wind will die down.  I hate wind - it saps all joy of being outside.



I am looking forward to... March 4th, when cookies sales end. 

I am learning... About rocketry.


I am hearing... Colin shuffling across the kitchen floor in his footy sleepers and Rylan and Jordan mixing up the pancake ingredients as I give them instructions, one at a time. See? I'm multi-tasking here!



Around the house... Rylan and I will begin bagging up cookie orders this afternoon, after we come home from selling around the neighborhood.  I need to sew a lot of patches onto Jordan's new gi for karate, and begin the birthday placemat.  This might even spur me to sort out the craft closet, since most of my fabric is in absolute disarray.

I am pondering... sad feelings this week.  My grandma Bobbie's birthday is in a few days.  It will be the first birthday since her passing in October.  We always got together for a large family meal on her birthday.  I am feeling a deep sense of loss.  It helps to know that we will see at least some of the family in a couple of weeks, when we celebrate Colin's birthday.


One of my favorite things... Is the realization that my kids can make the Sunday morning pancakes from now on!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Nothing other than karate lessons and scouts.  LOVE that.


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Future Engineer

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The Hard Sell



By virtue of being homeschoolers, we are part of a demographic that online marketers have only recently discovered.  Even in the paltry five years that we have been homeschooling, the home-based curriculum market has gone through a massive growth spurt.  I spent hours, HOURS!, combing through all that was out there when we first started.  For the entire months of June, July and August of 2007, that was how I spent my days.  And this continues to be how I spend my days.

We have had numerous hits and misses with the stuff that we have used over the past few years.  Whenever we make a purchase from a company, we are, of course, added to their mailing list.  I am on the mailing list for Rainbow Resource, Pandia Press, All About Spelling, Knowledge Quest, AppSchool, Core Knowledge, Homeschool Buyers Co-op, Universal Preschool, Classical Home Education... and that is all I can think of off the top of my head.  I get 3 -5 emails per day, advertising some sort of new education product. 

I'm not exactly complaining  (I could easily remove my name from the list) because there is a lot of good stuff that comes our way because of it.  Every week Homeschool Buyer's Co-op sends out a listing of different curriculum items that are currently being offered at a steep discount to co-op members by the supplier.  Lots of beneficial things have been purchased that way.  We have purchased annual subscriptions to Reading Eggs, The Happy Scientist and Discover Education Online  - and I have been really pleased with them.  I am currently considering Brave Writer and a Junior edition of Financial Peace University....

Last week a new science package was being offered.  In order to protect the names of the GREEDY*, I will just refer to them as 'Weovercharge Science'.  As always, HBC wants you to try out the curriculum before you buy, so they provided a link for members to see the site, and get a sample of what they offer.  I was curious, so I did so. 

It is no secret that I hate spam.  I am already at my wits end with Fly Lady emails (10 -15 daily!!), so when I started receiving tons of email from this science site, I was already a little put out.  This past weekend an email was sent out inviting interested parties to join in on a live tele-class on rockets, that was going to be offered on Wednesday (Jan 18th).  It was Monday evening when I clicked on the link to sign up.  I got four reminder emails that we were signed up for the class.

The class looked really cool.  There would be a 'talk' about rockets, and then the instructor, 'A*', would take questions and lead the kids through the steps of building their own stomp rockets.  In theory - this would be time well spent.  We decided to miss out on our homeschool's afternoon group game time (older kids play board or card games) in order to do this.  I actually got both Colin and Owen down for their naps before the class started - with about four minutes to spare.

We had all of the required materials gathered up, ready to go.  We had even sprinted out the door earlier in the morning to go to a bicycle repair shop to get some old tubing.  We logged in, turned up the volume and anxiously awaited for the class to start.  At one o'clock, 'A' came on and welcomed us.  There were 1,700 participants she said.  She had mostly web-chat people, but a few were on the phone.  She put them on speaker and we could here several kids saying 'hello'.  That was pretty neat.  This was the first time we had ever done anything like this - and it felt so neat to be connected.  She began by introducing herself (5 min), and then showed several slides of different rocket types and designs.

That was neat.  There weren't a lot of slides, though.  She talked about Newton's Laws, and then asked a funny kid question: "If you farted in space, what would happen?"  (answer at the end)

This went on for about 25 minutes.  Then she asked us to set a timer for 8 minutes, and during that time, play the video she had set up that demonstrated how to build our rockets - and build right along with her.  So we frantically put our rockets together.

We could stop and start as we needed, but we were not done by the time she came back on.  She had said that she was going to talk about something to do with lasers, but instead - she launched (no pun intended) into a sales pitch to purchase a monthly subscription to her site. 

<<< 45 MINUTES LATER >>>

She showed a teaser to a video on lasers that you could view if you signed up for the online curriculum program.  She answered question that were coming in through email - and several were (surprisingly?) about the online program.  She repeated the web address to the site over fifteen times.  It is a great program, but I just don't have $57 a month (!!) to toss to the wind like that.

I'm more than just a little annoyed.  We sacrificed a full afternoon to do this, but I came away feeling duped!  It felt exactly like it did when Dean and I were on our honeymoon, and the hotel encouraged us to attend a *free* meeting with a hotel employee about purchasing a vacation time-share type of thing.  We had no idea what the meeting was going to be about - and felt very cheated with the precious little time we had for our vacation.

We did end up making our rockets.  In regards to this activity (the stomp rockets) - I will say  - it was well worth it.  We had a lot of fun, and it spurred a lot of new design ideas.  In fact, it even prompted us to sign up for our homeschool group's Science Fair in March.  When the little boys got up we were finally ready to launch.

I wish it were easier and cheaper to connect to the online community like that.  The day is coming - and for some it is already here.  I just don't like the hard sell aspect of all of it.  I also don't appreciate hearing the message from marketers that if I care about my kids' education, then I will buy their product.  That just leaves me feeling sour.  Absoultely the wrong approach, Miss 'A'...

In answer to the question "What happens if you fart in space?", the gas leaving your body (burp or fart) acts as a propellant, and for every action there is an equal and oppostite reaction.  So if you fart, the gas will push in one direction, and you will move forward in the opposite direction.  So if your tether ever detaches from the Space Station, just fart a lot and you can propell yourself back to safety.  :)  No consensus though, between Jordan, Rylan and myself, if the farts, in fact, stink or not. 



Holes

"Every time your child says something unkind...to a family member, he is sent

outside to hammer a nail into a post.  Every time a kind word is said, have the

child remove a nail.  The nail will be somewhat rusty, and will of course leave

a hole in the post.  Remind your child that although kind words are nice, the damage

will remain, and it is a wise choice to control what you say".

-Creative Correction by Lisa Welchel

I really used to enjoy going to Park Day.  That changed one day last September, when a particularly nasty-tempered girl told Rylan that she had big ears.  (I love my daughter to death, and yes, she does have ears that stick out quite a bit, but still...)  Rylan was crushed.  She's five, and that was the first time anyone ever pointed it out to her - let alone SCREAM it in her face.  The mother of that little girl never made her daughter aware of the amount of hurt she caused or even offered an apology for the incident.  She tried to have a "feelings" discussion with her daughter... and her daughter was in the middle of a blind rage.  (That's when you mutter to yourself, "No wonder that girl is homeschooled!")  We left shortly after that.

A month or two later a little boy was unapologetic as he revealed to Rylan that the Tooth Fairy does not exist.  Rylan hasn't even had the pleasure of losing a tooth yet, and she is already full of doubt.  We have yet to go back to a Park Day at this point.  We kind of make the most of Park Day in our own way...  By playing at a park on the other side of town.

I bring this up now, for two reasons.

1.  Enough time has passed that I can now relate the story without using an obscene number of expletives, aimed at people I know and that know me.

2.  Rylan, in the midst of a play session with her Barbies this afternoon, suddenly stopped and loudly exclaimed, "Uuugh!  I wish I could get that ugly girl out of my head that told me I had big ears!"  "Do I have big ears??"

-sigh-

I wish I could get that ugly girl out of your head too, Rylan.  I wish I could fill in those nail holes so that it was like they didn't even exist.  But.  That is life.  People will say mean things.   And even though the people who love you will say kind things to take away the pain, the holes will still be there.  Some critics say that homeschooled children are at a loss as to how to take the playground taunting that all the other kids get used to, and that they are missing out on honing such interpersonal skills as:

* engaging in snappy comebacks - and becoming just as ugly as your aggressor

* getting a thick skin (yet silently hating yourself and requiring lots of expensive therapy in later years)

* starting rumors meant to hurt the other person

* taking names of which mutual friends you can bring to your side

* starting whisper campaigns - the more subversive the better

Get over it you say... "Not everyone is nice."  (You can say that again...)

Well society?... you suck.  It shouldn't have to be this way.

So therein lies the beauty of homeschooling... we don't have to play with the same mean kids who menace the all other kids on the playground, day after day.  We can pick up our toys and go home.  We have (for the most part) the ability to selectively choose our playmates. 

To make a successful go of it in our society, you owe it to yourself to surround yourself with those who make you feel happy, productive, creative... and well, even loved, for that matter.  So that is what I am teaching my kids.  You don't have to 'learn how to take it' when others treat you badly - because you don't have to.

And as a gentle reminder to all - take the time to choose your words carefully - they really do leave a lasting impression, and can hurt the ones you love the most.

Maintain eye contact...

Look at her.  He's got her by the lapel...  But no.  She's pursed her lips in concentration.  She is looking him square in the eye.  So that's it... my little girl is a thousand times braver than I am.

I know who I am sending in to fight the fight if we ever get caught in a dark alley.

No smiling!  There's no smiling in karate!

You know what she said on the way home?

"I was the loudest, mom.  I was even louder than the boys".

Finding balance...

Ever had days like this??

I'm not going to play the "My day is tougher than your day..."game, but homeschooling moms (or dads...) have it especially rough.... I often feel like I am spinning, spinning, spinning....just to keep up with everything.

The basics: food, clothing and several diaper changes.  I got waylayed with the usual laundry load yesterday and Monday by Owen, who decided that it was much to difficult to get out of bed and walk the two feet to his little potty, and that his bed is a much better place to go.  Two separate loads are required to get all of the pillows, blankets, sheets and mattress cover cleaned.  Total washing and drying time: 5 hours.  Forget washing anything else... except the emergency pairs of underwear to keep the rest of us semi-presentable.

The housework:  ummmm....well.... does dumping out the old coffee, swishing the pot once or twice and refilling it count??  Jordan and I did manage to get the kitchen swept yesterday morning, while making breakfast.  We both forgot that scrambled eggs were cooking.  Nothing worse than smelling 'burnt egg smell' all day.  Especially when you can't stand eggs to begin with. (me)

The schoolwork: You can only request a child to "Go read a book" so often...  We actually had a stellar day on Monday - I'll address that in a separate post.  Yesterday we got waylayed by the silly workbooks we have to do for karate - and you can't test until they are all turned in - and testing is this Saturday.  Total time to finish just the workbooks for both Rylan and Jordan: about an hour and a half - on top of everything else we need to do.

The personal time:  I got to read two 'pages' on my Kindle yesterday.  I did so while stirring the Spanish Rice I was making for dinner.  I'm reading Bossypants, and I laughed out loud at how Tina Fey doesn't use the word 'blonde' when she is reading fairytales to her young daughter.  Instead, she substitutes yellow-haired', so that the connotation that blonde hair is somehow better than brown hair is avoided.  The little girl is not fooled - she prefers the blonde over the brown.  With respect to Rylan, this very subject came up the other day when we were playing with her Disney princess dolls.  She loves her Belle doll best, and I shared that I like her best, too.  I make a concerted effort to make a kind remark about Rylan's brown hair from time to time... I have brown hair too, and I remember growing up - a child of the 70's, in the shadow of long, beautiful blonde hair as being the mark of true beauty.  I don't ever want Rylan to feel like she is anything 'less'.  Not sure what the little girl ideals are these days.... Monster High?  Brats?  Somehow I don't think awkwardly huge heads and feet are appealing, much less humanly possible. 

Networking with others:  I know that D is grateful for their home after a long Christmas vacation, that A just bought some fabulous running shoes and has set a goal to run 500 miles this year (I am so envious!), and that S is juggling sick kids with sick pets.  And I got the gist of that from their blog updates during the other five minutes of free time that I had yesterday.  Having any face time with friends is downright impossible.

Time with my husband: yesterday we had to take a detour to get him to his drop-off point for his commuter van.  We spent the time bickering about which route was faster and searching on the smart phone for the reason why there was a detour.  I got home and found out on the local newspaper's website that there was a horrible fatal accident.  We spent the time during the ride home trying to figure out how the accident could have happened, now that the route was open again.  Then Dean went to do a Board of Review for an Eagle Scout who is squeaking in a Palm Leaf before his 18th birthday on Thursday.  On Monday night, we got all the kids in bed by 9:00, and enjoyed watching The Colbert Report and a new episode of Portlandia on the DVR.  That was nice... I needed some down time, and we are about 20 episodes behind with respect to The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.  Portlandia is absolutely hilarious - I strongly recommend watching the first season (6 episodes) from last year, just so you get a 'feel' for the show.

It's hard to fall into bed and night and ever think "I got so much done today!".  If you focus on one of the plates, all the others get into a rather precarious position.  Why, why, why is balance such an elusive thing?  I know we all struggle with it, on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

I am working on a new school schedule for us, trying to find that balance.  We are trying out the new schedules this week... and it's sorta working.  Lots of tweaking is in store, but I think I have found a way to combine household chores/schoolwork/play into a flow that works for us.  

Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

Outside my window... Ha!  I've moved everything around, so this answer has changed!  I now look out the front bay window.  The sun is *just* about to peek over the neighbor's roof across the street.  Then I have about ten more minutes and the sun will be at the right angle to hit the computer screen.  I know that this will only be an irritation for about another month, and then the angle of the sun will have changed enough that it won't happen again until next fall.  I also just saw a couple walking by with their two dogs.  You could set your watch by them.  Always at 7:45 a.m. they are walking by.  They also do an evening walk.  Four years ago, in late January, they stopped by and knocked on the door.  It was so cold that night...  They had found a small cat huddled under the overhang of our front bay window, and picked her up and knocked on the door to ask if she was ours.  Indeed, she wasn't, but because they were out walking their dogs, they couldn't very well take her home to call the Humane Society, so I offered to take her and make the call instead.  She had a red collar and no tags.  No microchip either.  We offered to adopt her and two weeks later she was officially ours.  We were not cat people at the time, but she has been the best little cat.  Except for when she swallowed the pin.

I am thinking... How debilitating Codependent thinking can be.  I spent over eleven years with an alcoholic.  Before that, I had to contend with the worst Type-A you can imagine.  I know what it is like to live that way.  You just want everyone to be happy, and you will enable situations and scenarios to play out simply to keep things looking like 'normal'.  I got help, and I don't think like this anymore, but I have been thinking about it lately since a friend, who lives in another state, is living through a nightmare.  She has a stalker who is getting increasingly bizarre in his attempts to reach her.  A police officer who has taken on the case has recommended a book to her: The Gift of Fear, by Gavin de Becker.  It is about listening to and trusting your intuition, and learning how to recognize danger.  When I think back to the crazy things that I did in my early twenties... Camping alone with just my dog, agreeing to go out bar-hopping with Aussie kids I didn't know (it was before date-rape drugs were popular, but still), walking the Brisbane city streets at night - alone!!, walking/bicycling the college campus at all hours of the night, being semi-drunk and walking with groups of strangers to try and find bathrooms... the list, unfortunately goes on and on, I really put myself at risk a boat-load of times.  I even do it now, on occasion.  BUT - I do trust my gut and I have only done it when I totally felt 'okay' with it.

The best time that I ever put myself at risk?  The time I agreed to meet Dean - at my house - for the first time, so he could pick me up for our first date.  We had talked on the phone numerous times, and emailed back and forth more times than I could count, so I felt like it was safe.  My intuition was totally correct on that one!!  :)

I am thankful... That my friend has a good support system in place to help keep her safe - and for things like Google Latitude so I can keep tabs on her (per her request).

I am thankful for the gift of time during  the past two weeks - the most productive weeks imaginable.  We got a ton of junk and trash out of the house and can now use our living space as it was intended..

I am also thankful that Owen has had three days in a row of being completely dry.  He is now going - by himself- to the big potty and taking care of business when he needs to.  Yahoo!!

From the Learning Rooms... We now have an official school room!  I just purchased a subscription to Reading Eggs for Owen, Rylan and Jordan.  I am looking forward to spending some time with that this coming week.  I have been wanting this program for a loooooong time!


In the kitchen... Cooked up a storm this weekend.  I made lasagna on Friday night.  I changed things a bit because I am still on the hunt for a really good lasagna.  I'm getting closer.  I think I have the sauce right, but I really need to cook it and then let it sit in a crock pot for several hours to let the flavors meld.  I first sauteed the ground beef (sorry - 'no can do' on the Italian sausage - I can't eat it), and then as it was draining I sauteed the onions, garlic and mushrooms.  I bloomed the spices (this was a first, and I think it really helped), and then stirred in the tomato paste, diced tomato and crushed tomato. Yep - I used all three.  I like the little chunks of tomato - but not a ton - so that is where the crushed comes in.  The sauce just tasted too 'tomatoey', which is why I think letting it sit in a crockpot might help.  I used cottage cheese this time, instead of ricotta.  I just can't stand ricotta.  I also used fresh spinach, instead of frozen (drained and thawed).  I liked the difference.  Dean says I need to use more cheese.  He always says that. I will try again in a couple of months...

I also made Pioneer Woman's blackberry cobbler.  Two words: Yum  E.  Loved the crunchy sugar crust.

Last night was' Easy Ropa Vieja stew', from the November '11 issue of Taste of Home.  Very good, but I don't see what is so 'easy' about this stew.  It was a lot of work to put it together - it took me nearly 45 minutes to get it all situated in the crock pot.  It was a little too spicy for Owen and Colin, but I had a ton of extra lasagna on hand. 

I went shopping with my Christmas money last week, and I purchased two items at Bed Bath & Beyond last weekend that I have been lusting after for years...   One was a large-sized mesh strainer.  The other was this...

It is a Fontignac Round 5-Quart Casserole. (cast iron with enamel coating.)  They retail at BB&B for $99.99, but the green and the yellow were discounted to $79.99.  I chose the green.  I suppose if I had the disposable income to purchase a Le Creuset I might, but I don't see why, at this point.  This pot is nothing short of awesome!!!  I have used it nine times in the last week alone.  I love that I can SEE what is happening to the food.  Before I was using a non-stick dutch oven, and with the black coating, you can't really see what the food is doing.  I love that I can finally deglaze properly.  I love how fast, and how evenly the food cooks.  I love how solid it is.  I love how easy it is to clean it.  I don't love how hot the handles get, but I am learning.  And I love that it is green.  It's beautiful!  So a huge thank you to my MIL and SIL for the Christmas money so that I could purchase this gem.  I LOVE IT!


I am wearing...   Pjs.  What else?  To add spice, I am also wearing socks with crocs.  ooooo.

I am creating...  A new, comprehensive school schedule.  We have some new items to work in, and I want to make sure I create a dedicated time of day to do it.  New this year - a nature walk EVERY DAY to coincide with my intention to get more nature study in.  Here is our guide... I love, love this site.  Even if you are not a homeschooler - you could learn so much by doing this yourself.  I highly recommend it!

I am going... To walk the dog in a bit.  Just my dog, my tunes and some fresh air.


I am wondering...  if my orthotics will ever feel good...


I am reading... Bossy Pants, by Tina Fey.  Well, it's at least on my Kindle.  I haven't read it yet.  And I better get crackin' - book club meets this Thursday!

I am hoping... for the gift of uninterrupted reading time this week.  Hun??


I am looking forward to... book club this week and karate belt promotions this coming weekend.


I am hearing...  Pandora is playing right now - tuned to Keyboard Classics. Currently Playing: Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, by Bach.  In the other room I hear Kung Fu Panda on the TV.  And Colin messing with the baby monitor up in his room.  I love, love, love that the computer is in a separate room from the TV now.  It makes it so much easier to write.

Around the house... Laundry catch-up and grocery shopping today.

I am pondering... getting the kids on their bikes after lunch.


One of my favorite things... Is this sunny office area.  I just can't get over how good it feels to have such a nice workspace.  We are truly blessed!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Dedicated school week.  Scouts tomorrow night.  Book club on Thursday night.  Play date for Rylan on Friday.  Her second.  EVER.  I'm thrilled!  Belt testing for Rylan on Sat.  Jordan is doing his second round of Merit Badge University classes that morning, so he will do his promotions make-up next Wednesday.  It will be a big one - he is advancing into the Black Belt Club.  He gets a new gi and will start using his sparring hear.  And I will have about twenty patches to hand sew.  yay......


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

We enjoyed some gorgeous, sunny weather this past week.  As I was watching Owen at play, it all of a sudden hit me that I don't see Owen as a little toddler anymore.  I see a young boy.  He's getting taller, and skinnier.  I got so sad at this stage with Rylan, but with Owen it is different.  He is potty trained now!  He articulates some pretty complex thoughts and feelings.  He can serve himself some simple snacks and drinks.  I am very proud.. and I still melt when I look into those big, brown eyes.  Love you little guy!

To read more entries and visit a variety of other blogs, go here...

2011 in Review

I'm still in reflection mode, and I found this awesome list of questions today during a rather long, drawn-out blog surfing session.  Believe it or not, I was originally searching for birdseed ornament directions for our Daisy meeting this Friday.  Damn you Family Fun website for tempting me down this rabbit hole!

1.      What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Well, I began my list of 40 Things.  To date I have accomplished the following:

# 1 - Had a Mammogram

# 2 - Built a gingerbread house

I knew you would be impressed...admit it that you are jealous I am such an accomplished person...

2.      Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Here is what I wrote out last year, on Dec.31st, 2010...

* create a master 52 week cleaning schedule (completed through week 13)

I discovered FlyLady and she does it for me! I even get it sent to my inbox every morning. Now I just need to clean out the 329 FlyLady emails that are still in my inbox...

* create a master 52 week recipe/menu/shopping list plan (completed 2 weeks worth)

What am I, insane??

* create a master daily schedule for each child so that I can make sure I am meeting the daily minimum of their educational needs.

Sigh. I so wanted to make this work for me. I am in the process of revising the schedule now - since we only have afternoon naps to contend with at this point. I also want to incorporate my goals for this coming year: time to mess around with bugs/dirt/plants/art supplies/and kid-friendly household chemicals.

My motto for the upcoming year remains the same: Revise and make it work.

3.      Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well... Does this current New Year's Day count?  My niece (by marriage) gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Marshall, at 5:30 am.  He was the first baby of the year at the hospital they delivered at.

4.      Did anyone close to you die?
This one is painful... Yes - three wonderful grandmothers.
Dean's maternal grandma, Essie, in January
My maternal grandma, Betty, in April
My paternal grandma, Bobbie, in October.

It's been a long, dreadful year in this respect.

5.      What countries did you visit?
Does Oklahoma count?  That sometimes feels like another country...

6.      What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Sleep

7.      What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 17th and October 7th - when my grandmothers passed away

8.      What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finding my calling to write, write, write... It has been my salvation.
-or-
Getting Owen to poop on the potty.  Take your pick...

9.      What was your biggest failure?
Putting straw mulch in the garden.  An absolute botanical catastrophe...

10.   Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have been suffering with plantar fasciitis since fall of 2010.  I just got my orthotics a couple of weeks ago.  It doesn't exactly feel like a miracle yet...  Pretty bummed about that.

Otherwise I am very thankful that my only major complaint is a nasty cold that will not go away.

11.   What was the best thing you bought?
The 13 week course for Financial Peace University.

12.   What was the best thing you received?
My iPhone4 that I got from my husband for my birthday...
-but-
My new FlyLady purple rags and scrubba tools come in a very close second... or my new cast iron enamel dutch oven... can't decide.

13.   Whose behavior merited celebration?
Owen has been just awesome during the whole potty training process.  He frequently has accidents, but his attitude has been very upbeat.  He is such a sweet kid...

14.   Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Republican portion of the Senate.

15.   Where did most of your money go?
Interest payments.  And diapers.  And Starbucks.  And karate lessons.

16.   What did you get really excited about?
Going to see U2 at Mile High, Skiing with Rylan last spring and cutting up our first credit card.

17.   What song will always remind you of 2011?
Us Against the World, by Coldplay.

18.   Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? B) thinner or fatter? C) richer or poorer?
a) happier - much happier!     b) about the same... boo.    c) we stopped the bleeding but we are walking along the edge every day...

19.    What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent time with my grandmas...

20.   What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating out - our single most extravagant expenditure...

21.   How did you spend Christmas?
A little of this... and a little of that...

22.   What was your favorite TV program?
The Closer, Modern Family and The Middle.

23.   What were your favorite books of the year?
The Blue Zones and The Help

24.   What was your favorite music from this year?
Coldplay, Foster the People and Adele 21 - and Jimmy Fallon's rendition of the Reading Rainbow

25.   What were your favorite films of the year?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Tangled

26.   What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40.  We went camping, had a nice family dinner and then Dean and I went out to our favorite 'special occasion' restaurant for dinner the next night.  It was the best of birthdays...  :)

27.   What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It is selfish, but I wish our grandmas were still here.  They all had health issues and so, in a way, they are at peace now.  But I miss them terribly - the holiday season was exceptionally rough. 

28.   What political issue stirred you the most?
It is a toss-up between the no-tax-hike oath that all of the Republicans took (which will mean the death of America if we don't vote them out of office soon....) or the FOX network's assertion that Socialism is a dirty word.  What bothers me the most, though, is that a political argument between me and cousin of mine earlier this year means that we are no longer on speaking terms, and that makes me very, very sad.  I can't bring myself to understand his view, and he ridicules me for mine.

29.   What kept you sane?
Writing out all of my joys, fears, concerns, rants, and so forth...  And Dove dark chocolate.

30.   Who did you meet this year?
I met a couple of new homeschooling moms that are an inspiration to me - their sage advice has spurred a lot of interesting discussion in our group.  We met at a non-profit center one night, in early fall, for our monthly homeschool association meeting, and it feels like we are on the cusp of something big.  A fusion of public/private/homeschool education endeavours...  The future of education is changing rapidly, and I am excited to see what is in store.  I remember the drive home that night... my mind was racing with the possibilities.

31.   Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

I will never be able to do all of the charitable things I want to do in life until we pay off our debts and become good financial stewards with what we do have.

32.  Best song lyric for the year?

Coldplay's Every Teardrop is a Waterfall.   Love the entire song!!