Sniffle, sneeze, cough, cough, sneeze, whine, sniffle, whine...... and that's just from me, not to mention the yucky noises coming from my 4 sick little children and sick husband. The first cold of the season has struck. Sugar Biscuit has been hit the hardest with this particular bug, and poor baby has food allergies that make it virtually impossible to find medication that she can safely take. Our doctors and pharmacists are stumped. I feel so bad for her.
Needless to say, we spent a large portion of our day laying around being miserable together. We did manage to accomplish school today. Our year has gotten off to a rough start, between the death of my grandmother and the entire family coming down with sore throats and head colds. Fortunately, we're not too far off track, and next week Keil has 4 days off. Yay for Daddy being home to entertain the Littles so we can accomplish school in the mornings!
I have no pictures to share. Finishing the curriculum took everything I had without throwing in the task of photography. Not to mention the fact that my children are not exactly looking their best at the moment. Their noses are red and drippy, there are dark circles under their eyes, and our work table was covered with Kleenex. Not exactly a picture perfect moment. I do have to say though, that we did even manage to get in a science experiment. Have I mentioned that I love the simplicity of our curriculum?!
Okay. I'm tired. I can't breathe. I'm going to try to go sleep so that we can get an earlier start on school tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Practice Makes Progress
I have a perfectionist on my hands. Buggy has an overwhelming need to be the best at everything he does, the very first time he does it. He's driven, he's got an incredible amount of self-control, and he's very disciplined. These are all awesome qualities and serve him well.......some days. Other days, (like today) these qualities only serve to drive him and me ca-razy.
Our art project today was to sketch a tree---while only looking at the tree and not at your paper; and without lifting your pencil. As I gave the directions, I watched Buggy's face turn from concern to anxiety to outright panic. I tried to encourage him that this was just for fun, and that it would be interesting to see how their trees turned out when they were done! Surprise! Doesn't that sound like fun?! No. Apparently not to Buggy. After 10 minutes on the front porch, the poor boy was reduced to tears. I did the only thing I could in that moment. I allowed him to throw away his imperfect first attempt and go back to the porch with a new set of rules---he COULD look at his paper, and he COULD lift his pencil. He came back from the second attempt with what he had deemed the absolutel best tree he could draw. Today's art lesson? There is no right or wrong in art. Do what makes you happy!
Here's my budding artists, sketching the trees from our front porch.
Later in the afternoon, Buggy was in tears again because his Lego Spinner (Don't ask, I have no idea) was not as good as Punky's. You know that old saying, "Practice makes perfect..." It's a lie. Very, very rarely is anyone perfect at anything. So, now we remind the kids, "Practice makes progress." It's much more honest, and easier on Buggy's ego.
Tonight I finally loaded our Spanish curriculum onto the computer. I love it! I'm already on the 2nd core lesson! The boys.....well, we'll make progress. With lots of practice. Honestly, this is a great way to learn a language. It's totally different than how I "learned" Spanish in high school. Punky and Buggy both completed the first core lesson with a score of about 80%. Not bad!
Okay, that's all for today. Sugar Biscuit has already been awake half a dozen times tonight and I haven't even been to bed yet. Her nose started running and she's complaining of a sore throat. Throw in the fact that she has food allergies and there are no medicines we can safely give her, and it may be a long night.
Our art project today was to sketch a tree---while only looking at the tree and not at your paper; and without lifting your pencil. As I gave the directions, I watched Buggy's face turn from concern to anxiety to outright panic. I tried to encourage him that this was just for fun, and that it would be interesting to see how their trees turned out when they were done! Surprise! Doesn't that sound like fun?! No. Apparently not to Buggy. After 10 minutes on the front porch, the poor boy was reduced to tears. I did the only thing I could in that moment. I allowed him to throw away his imperfect first attempt and go back to the porch with a new set of rules---he COULD look at his paper, and he COULD lift his pencil. He came back from the second attempt with what he had deemed the absolutel best tree he could draw. Today's art lesson? There is no right or wrong in art. Do what makes you happy!
Here's my budding artists, sketching the trees from our front porch.
Tonight I finally loaded our Spanish curriculum onto the computer. I love it! I'm already on the 2nd core lesson! The boys.....well, we'll make progress. With lots of practice. Honestly, this is a great way to learn a language. It's totally different than how I "learned" Spanish in high school. Punky and Buggy both completed the first core lesson with a score of about 80%. Not bad!
Okay, that's all for today. Sugar Biscuit has already been awake half a dozen times tonight and I haven't even been to bed yet. Her nose started running and she's complaining of a sore throat. Throw in the fact that she has food allergies and there are no medicines we can safely give her, and it may be a long night.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Two Week Detour
The last two weeks have been very long, and normal routine went completely out the window somewhere along the way. My grandmother passed away last weekend. She was not able to fight off the infection which had consumed her body after her bowel was perforated during a routine hernia surgery. The shock of her sudden loss has been emotionally draining on our entire family. I know that many of our friends and family have been praying on our behalf for the last couple of weeks, and those thoughts and prayers are so very appreciated. Thank you.
Somehow, in the course of the last two weeks (the first while my grandmother was fighting for her life in the ICU, and the second with two funeral services---one in Montana) I did manage to complete week 2 of Bigger Hearts for His Glory with Punky and Buggy. One 5 day unit in two weeks doesn't sound like a lot of progress, but considering the circumstances, I think we did okay. Yesterday, my grandma was taken to her final resting place, and we said our "for now" goodbyes. My boys learned a difficult life lesson about loss and grief this week, and I'm thankful that they we were not trying to shuffle them off to school in the middle of all of that.
Tomorrow I will begin Unit 3 with Punky and Buggy, and try to find our way back into a routine. I had hoped to start Little Hands to Heaven, (at half speed) with Louie and Sugar Biscuit this week, but it may wait. We'll see how ambitious I'm feeling! Seeing as how it is currently 4:00pm on Sunday and I'm updating the blog rather than going over this week's lesson plans...... That is one of the best parts of these programs though; the teacher's manuals really are just "open and go." Very little preparation---EXACTLY what I need!
I did manage to get a couple of pictures during the last two weeks. Unit 2 continues to focus on the sea, and the voyages of Christopher Columbus and John Cabot. The first science experiment of the week had me filling a baking pan with sand, dry beans, dry cereal, dry macaroni and cranberries. The kids kept asking what I was baking. Ha! Wishful thinking, Little Ones. Wishful thinking.
So, the whole point of the experiment was to discuss the fact that different birds eat different things. Therefore, they each need a beak which is unique in size and shape to help them eat their own unique food. The children were provided with different tools to simulate different types of beaks---pliers, clothespins, tweezers, etc. The boys had a great time figuring out which tool worked best for each of the different types of food I had buried or scattered in the pan of sand.
Even Louie got in on the action!
I have to admit, I wasn't as thrilled about the instructions for the art project this week. First, we were to cover a piece of white construction paper with wax paper, and draw a fish on the wax paper; thereby transferring the fish shaped wax onto the construction paper. That seemed like a lot of steps to accomplish a relatively simple task, so I simply had the boys draw a fish with a white crayon. Then we were to use water colors to paint 3 sections of color on our paper (green, blue, and purple). After painting, we were to wrinkle up a piece of plastic wrap and lay it over the paint. When removed, the plastic wrap was to leave a "watery" look in the paint. Uh, well...that didn't work for us. The boys were painting so slow that one color was drying before they even moved onto the next. The instructions made it sound as if we were to have the paper very wet, so I kept having the boys add more and more water. When they had their painting finally done, the construction paper was so saturated with water that there was no way the paint was thick enough to be affected by the wrinkled plastic wrap. So, the watery look was basically a fail. I'm still not totally sure how well that was going to work anyway, using water paints. Maybe next time we'll try it with another type of paint. At any rate, Punky and Buggy had a fun, and the paintings did still turn out pretty neat.
Huh. Just realized I didn't take any pictures of the final product. Guess you'll just have to trust me!
The biography we have been reading for our read-alouds is George Rogers Clark. The boys are absolutely LOVING this book, and beg me not to stop reading at the end of each day. The most recent chapter we read found George venturing out with his father to shoot his first deer. Keil usually tries to shoot a couple of deer each fall---it's an inexpensive way to feed a lot of growing children! (Although, I still have a really hard time finding ways to cook the meat so that I can tolerate the taste. Blehhhck!) Of course, after reading this detailed story of a young boy accomplishing his first big kill, Punky and Buggy could hardly wait for Keil to come home so they could beg to go along on his next hunting trip. With all the events of the past week, Keil and I haven't had a chance to discuss this, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. What is the right age to let a child tag along on a hunting trip?
And, while we're discussing age-appropriateness, I have another question. Should I be concerned that my almost-three-year old has recently begun to insist on wearing a frilly little tank-top under all of her clothes because (as I just today realized) she wants to wear a bra just like me? Personally, I found the whole thing completely, and hilariously adorable. However, her shirts and dresses are rather....frumpy looking with the extra bulk of the frills underneath. One of those mommy dilemmas is brewing. I'm hoping she'll tire of the extra layers and ditch the tank top on her own. (And soon!)
Somehow, in the course of the last two weeks (the first while my grandmother was fighting for her life in the ICU, and the second with two funeral services---one in Montana) I did manage to complete week 2 of Bigger Hearts for His Glory with Punky and Buggy. One 5 day unit in two weeks doesn't sound like a lot of progress, but considering the circumstances, I think we did okay. Yesterday, my grandma was taken to her final resting place, and we said our "for now" goodbyes. My boys learned a difficult life lesson about loss and grief this week, and I'm thankful that they we were not trying to shuffle them off to school in the middle of all of that.
Tomorrow I will begin Unit 3 with Punky and Buggy, and try to find our way back into a routine. I had hoped to start Little Hands to Heaven, (at half speed) with Louie and Sugar Biscuit this week, but it may wait. We'll see how ambitious I'm feeling! Seeing as how it is currently 4:00pm on Sunday and I'm updating the blog rather than going over this week's lesson plans...... That is one of the best parts of these programs though; the teacher's manuals really are just "open and go." Very little preparation---EXACTLY what I need!
I did manage to get a couple of pictures during the last two weeks. Unit 2 continues to focus on the sea, and the voyages of Christopher Columbus and John Cabot. The first science experiment of the week had me filling a baking pan with sand, dry beans, dry cereal, dry macaroni and cranberries. The kids kept asking what I was baking. Ha! Wishful thinking, Little Ones. Wishful thinking.
 |
| Yum! |
Even Louie got in on the action!
The biography we have been reading for our read-alouds is George Rogers Clark. The boys are absolutely LOVING this book, and beg me not to stop reading at the end of each day. The most recent chapter we read found George venturing out with his father to shoot his first deer. Keil usually tries to shoot a couple of deer each fall---it's an inexpensive way to feed a lot of growing children! (Although, I still have a really hard time finding ways to cook the meat so that I can tolerate the taste. Blehhhck!) Of course, after reading this detailed story of a young boy accomplishing his first big kill, Punky and Buggy could hardly wait for Keil to come home so they could beg to go along on his next hunting trip. With all the events of the past week, Keil and I haven't had a chance to discuss this, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. What is the right age to let a child tag along on a hunting trip?
And, while we're discussing age-appropriateness, I have another question. Should I be concerned that my almost-three-year old has recently begun to insist on wearing a frilly little tank-top under all of her clothes because (as I just today realized) she wants to wear a bra just like me? Personally, I found the whole thing completely, and hilariously adorable. However, her shirts and dresses are rather....frumpy looking with the extra bulk of the frills underneath. One of those mommy dilemmas is brewing. I'm hoping she'll tire of the extra layers and ditch the tank top on her own. (And soon!)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Wait for the Teacher to Call on You!
Punky and Buggy are 9 and 7, respectively. I have combined them in Bigger Hearts for His Glory this year. They are really enjoying working and learning together in History, Science, Poetry, Bible, Art, Geography, etc. And, I LOVE that I only have to cover all of those subjects once with the two of them together! I am, however, beginning to notice one problem.
Being older, Punky is usually quicker to come up with the answers to my discussion questions. After homeschooling last year in his own individual curriculum, he is totally out of the habit of allowing others the chance to answer questions. I've been realizing lately that Buggy rarely answers my questions, and just sits back and waits for Punky to answer. So, today I began to specifically ask each child, by name, the question that I wanted him to answer. Unfortunately, even that sometimes doesn't work. Punky is just bursting to share what he knows, and he forgets that the question was directed at his brother.
I'm seriously considering having them raise their hands to be called on. I really don't want to have to resort to that, because, well....this is our home, and I'm their mom, and they should be able to just show respect without having to initiate traditional classroom rules. I might first try a "speaking stick." You may only answer when you have the stick. I'm hoping that the tactile element of this may also serve as a reminder to Punky. I'm open to any thoughts or ideas anyone is willing to offer!!
As for the Littles, they are losing interest in the "new" Playdough. I'm starting to think that I may begin Little Hands to Heaven with them next week. My plan is to work with them at half speed for this year and next. Sugar Biscuit will be 3 in October, so she is still fairly young. I want to keep them together as they are only 15 months apart, and I know it will be more fun for them, and easier for me. LHTH is a 5-day-a-week plan, so we will work 2 or 3 days a week, and take longer with it. Then, by the time we're finished the Littles should be ready for Little Hearts for His Glory.
Of course, all of my plans at this moment are tentative based on what happens with my grandma. She is still in the ICU in critical condition. Not much has changed with her status, which is both good news and bad news at the same time. We continue to spend as much time as possible at her bedside, and to pray. I don't know how this will turn out, but I know that God will provide us with the strength that we need to endure what comes.
Being older, Punky is usually quicker to come up with the answers to my discussion questions. After homeschooling last year in his own individual curriculum, he is totally out of the habit of allowing others the chance to answer questions. I've been realizing lately that Buggy rarely answers my questions, and just sits back and waits for Punky to answer. So, today I began to specifically ask each child, by name, the question that I wanted him to answer. Unfortunately, even that sometimes doesn't work. Punky is just bursting to share what he knows, and he forgets that the question was directed at his brother.
I'm seriously considering having them raise their hands to be called on. I really don't want to have to resort to that, because, well....this is our home, and I'm their mom, and they should be able to just show respect without having to initiate traditional classroom rules. I might first try a "speaking stick." You may only answer when you have the stick. I'm hoping that the tactile element of this may also serve as a reminder to Punky. I'm open to any thoughts or ideas anyone is willing to offer!!
As for the Littles, they are losing interest in the "new" Playdough. I'm starting to think that I may begin Little Hands to Heaven with them next week. My plan is to work with them at half speed for this year and next. Sugar Biscuit will be 3 in October, so she is still fairly young. I want to keep them together as they are only 15 months apart, and I know it will be more fun for them, and easier for me. LHTH is a 5-day-a-week plan, so we will work 2 or 3 days a week, and take longer with it. Then, by the time we're finished the Littles should be ready for Little Hearts for His Glory.
Of course, all of my plans at this moment are tentative based on what happens with my grandma. She is still in the ICU in critical condition. Not much has changed with her status, which is both good news and bad news at the same time. We continue to spend as much time as possible at her bedside, and to pray. I don't know how this will turn out, but I know that God will provide us with the strength that we need to endure what comes.
Fighting a Mighty Wave
This was another long and exhaustive day spent at the hospital with my family. My grandmother's health continued to deteriorate throughout the day, until the doctors finally gathered us together and gave us dire news. Grandma was becoming septic due to a perforation in her bowel and needed immediate surgery in order to save her life. We were all unsure about whether she would agree to the surgery, but grateful when she did. We gathered around her to encourage her to fight hard and come back to us. She promised us that she would try. And she did. She came through the surgery, and is currently in ICU in critical condition. The doctors have told us that they are doing absolutely everything that they can for her, and now it is up to her and God. She has a long and difficult battle ahead. Even if she survives, her recovery will be weeks or months long, and will be painful. As a family, we are unsure of what to pray for. All I can do is pray that God's will be done. I must give this to God, because I cannot fight this fight for her.
After I arrived home after 11 pm tonight, I realized that I have not looked at any lesson plans for this week. I picked up my guide, and flipped to tomorrow's lesson---Unit 2, Day 1 (On a TUESDAY, may I point out! I wish I could scratch my brain, it's all sorts of itchy!) I turned to the appendix to find our poem for this unit, and as I read, the tears began to well, and then drip, and then pour, until I was sobbing. I have not really cried all day, wanting to stay level-headed and try to understand what the doctor's were telling us. The recurring theme throughout the entire day has been that Grandma must fight. She must find her inner strength and fight this with every thing she has.
Here is our poem for this week in Bigger Hearts for His Glory.
After I arrived home after 11 pm tonight, I realized that I have not looked at any lesson plans for this week. I picked up my guide, and flipped to tomorrow's lesson---Unit 2, Day 1 (On a TUESDAY, may I point out! I wish I could scratch my brain, it's all sorts of itchy!) I turned to the appendix to find our poem for this unit, and as I read, the tears began to well, and then drip, and then pour, until I was sobbing. I have not really cried all day, wanting to stay level-headed and try to understand what the doctor's were telling us. The recurring theme throughout the entire day has been that Grandma must fight. She must find her inner strength and fight this with every thing she has.
Here is our poem for this week in Bigger Hearts for His Glory.
The Ship That Sails
I'd rather be the ship that sails
And rides the billows wild and free;
Than to be the ship that always fails
To leave its port and go to sea.
I'd rather feel the sting of strife,
Where gales are born and tempests roar;
Than to settle down to useless life
And rot in dry dock on the shore.
I'd rather fight some mighty wave
With honor in supreme command;
And fill at last a well-earned grave,
Than to die in ease upon the sand.
I'd rather drive where sea storms blow,
And be the ship that always failed.
To make the ports where it would go,
Than be the ship that never sailed.
------Anonymous
After her surgery, the respiratory tech told us that her ventilator was forcing Grandma to take at least 12 breaths a minute, but that she was taking 20 breaths a minute, so she is taking at least 8 per minute on her own. My grandma is fighting a mighty wave, and I know that whether she survives this fight or not, she won't be the ship that never sailed.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Strength Will Rise
My grandma is very sick. She went in last week for a routine, outpatient surgery. Because of her pain, she was kept overnight. And then again another night. On the third night she was transferred to the hospital. Her kidney function was shutting down because her body was unable to metabolize the pain medication. Yesterday, she seemed to be improving.
I arrived at the hospital early this morning, hoping for a positive update from the doctor. Instead, I found my aunt crying at my grandma's bedside. She had taken a turn for the worse in the night, and was saying her goodbyes. The doctor let us know that they were trying strike a balance in treating her different organ systems. He was cautiously hopeful---he believed they could get the situation under control, but gently reminded us that she is 85.
Throughout the morning, my grandma kept telling us all that she knew it was her time, that she had lived a good life, and that she was ready to be with Jesus. We were scared, because we felt like she was giving up. At one point, I was encouraging her to "think positively..." She looked at me, a bit surprised, and said, "I am! I'm going to Heaven! That's good, right?"
This evening before we left the hospital we were given good news from the doctors that they are seeing slight improvements. Grandma is no longer talking as if she is going to pass on immediately, but that she has been given more time---possibly a week or two at least. I know that she has a long recovery ahead of her, but I definitely feel more optimistic than I did this morning.
As difficult as this day has been, I have been reminded of the good things in life too. My grandmother's peace of mind is a true testament to her faith in our Lord. I can only pray that when I reach that point in my own life that my faith will bring me peace that passes understanding. I was also reminded of the blessings of family. God gave us these people in our lives to be comfort, our guide posts in this world, and our companions through the ups and downs of life. No matter how far apart you live, or how long it's been since you've seen one another, when one is in need, the family will rally. Early this morning, when my aunt and I were the only two at the hospital, there was a desperate sense of loneliness and fear around us. But, little by little, as the rest of the family trickled in one by one, that fear began to dissipate. Hugs were shared, tears were shed, fond memories were enjoyed. There was a comfort in knowing that even if the worst happened, we would all be there to walk through it together. The Lord has created us to be His hands and feet. We open our arms for hugs and dry tears and offer comfort --- reminders that He is always with us, and will always provide for our needs.
As I reflect on this day, and watching my grandma wait for the Lord to take her home, and seeing our family rally around her and her condition improve, I can't help but be reminded of Lincoln Brewster's song, Everlasting God. It is one of my all time favorites. The chorus, "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon Lord....." just seems to fit this day so well. My favorite part of this song is, of course, the last verse spoken by Lincoln's young son:
I arrived at the hospital early this morning, hoping for a positive update from the doctor. Instead, I found my aunt crying at my grandma's bedside. She had taken a turn for the worse in the night, and was saying her goodbyes. The doctor let us know that they were trying strike a balance in treating her different organ systems. He was cautiously hopeful---he believed they could get the situation under control, but gently reminded us that she is 85.
Throughout the morning, my grandma kept telling us all that she knew it was her time, that she had lived a good life, and that she was ready to be with Jesus. We were scared, because we felt like she was giving up. At one point, I was encouraging her to "think positively..." She looked at me, a bit surprised, and said, "I am! I'm going to Heaven! That's good, right?"
This evening before we left the hospital we were given good news from the doctors that they are seeing slight improvements. Grandma is no longer talking as if she is going to pass on immediately, but that she has been given more time---possibly a week or two at least. I know that she has a long recovery ahead of her, but I definitely feel more optimistic than I did this morning.
As difficult as this day has been, I have been reminded of the good things in life too. My grandmother's peace of mind is a true testament to her faith in our Lord. I can only pray that when I reach that point in my own life that my faith will bring me peace that passes understanding. I was also reminded of the blessings of family. God gave us these people in our lives to be comfort, our guide posts in this world, and our companions through the ups and downs of life. No matter how far apart you live, or how long it's been since you've seen one another, when one is in need, the family will rally. Early this morning, when my aunt and I were the only two at the hospital, there was a desperate sense of loneliness and fear around us. But, little by little, as the rest of the family trickled in one by one, that fear began to dissipate. Hugs were shared, tears were shed, fond memories were enjoyed. There was a comfort in knowing that even if the worst happened, we would all be there to walk through it together. The Lord has created us to be His hands and feet. We open our arms for hugs and dry tears and offer comfort --- reminders that He is always with us, and will always provide for our needs.
As I reflect on this day, and watching my grandma wait for the Lord to take her home, and seeing our family rally around her and her condition improve, I can't help but be reminded of Lincoln Brewster's song, Everlasting God. It is one of my all time favorites. The chorus, "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon Lord....." just seems to fit this day so well. My favorite part of this song is, of course, the last verse spoken by Lincoln's young son:
The Lord is the everlasting God,
The creator of all the Earth,
He never grows weak or weary,
No one can measure the depths of His understanding,
He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless,
Even youth will become weak and tired,
And young men will fall in exhaustion,
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength,
They will soar high on wings like eagles,
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not faint.
The creator of all the Earth,
He never grows weak or weary,
No one can measure the depths of His understanding,
He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless,
Even youth will become weak and tired,
And young men will fall in exhaustion,
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength,
They will soar high on wings like eagles,
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not faint.
The words of this song were taken from Isaiah 40:28, and it just truly speaks to my heart tonight. God is always there. Even when we feel tired and helpless, He is there.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The End Justifies the Means
Or, so I'm told.
Day 5. I broke our "no electronics during the school day" rule. I know, my willpower and ability to stick to a plan are absolutely astounding.
This summer, we received an invitation through our local home school group to join a FIRST Lego League Team. These teams are open to kids ages 9-14. Punky is 9, and obsessed with Legos. There was no doubt that he would want to join. We were recently notified that he was accepted to the team, and yesterday was the first meeting. We had to be there by 1:00. This means leaving our house in Green Meadows (aka the middle of nowhere) by 11:30. So, my choices were to try to get school done in a short amount of time, or have Saturday school.
Our curriculum is planned out five days per unit. In my brain, Day 1 is Monday, Day 5 is Friday. It makes my brain itch to think of doing, for example, Day 1 on Thursday. That's just so wrong. Yes, I know. I have issues. At any rate, I really wanted to complete the lesson plans for Day 5 on Friday.
So. I caved. The boys and I started school at about 7:45 with the Littles happily plugged in to Playhouse Disney. And guess what. We were completely finished with an entire day of school before 10:00! I love Playhouse Disney.
I even had time to bake a batch of gluten free black bean brownies to take to Punky's meeting. You can call me SuperMom. Oh...except for the part where the Littles watched tv for 2 and 1/2 hours, and my kids ate McDonald's for both lunch and supper. Yeah. Maybe not so much SuperMom as much as Doing - Whatever - it - Takes Mom. I can live with that.
Day 5. I broke our "no electronics during the school day" rule. I know, my willpower and ability to stick to a plan are absolutely astounding.
This summer, we received an invitation through our local home school group to join a FIRST Lego League Team. These teams are open to kids ages 9-14. Punky is 9, and obsessed with Legos. There was no doubt that he would want to join. We were recently notified that he was accepted to the team, and yesterday was the first meeting. We had to be there by 1:00. This means leaving our house in Green Meadows (aka the middle of nowhere) by 11:30. So, my choices were to try to get school done in a short amount of time, or have Saturday school.
Our curriculum is planned out five days per unit. In my brain, Day 1 is Monday, Day 5 is Friday. It makes my brain itch to think of doing, for example, Day 1 on Thursday. That's just so wrong. Yes, I know. I have issues. At any rate, I really wanted to complete the lesson plans for Day 5 on Friday.
So. I caved. The boys and I started school at about 7:45 with the Littles happily plugged in to Playhouse Disney. And guess what. We were completely finished with an entire day of school before 10:00! I love Playhouse Disney.
I even had time to bake a batch of gluten free black bean brownies to take to Punky's meeting. You can call me SuperMom. Oh...except for the part where the Littles watched tv for 2 and 1/2 hours, and my kids ate McDonald's for both lunch and supper. Yeah. Maybe not so much SuperMom as much as Doing - Whatever - it - Takes Mom. I can live with that.
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