Artist: Frank Lloyd Wright

One of my favorite architects in the world!  I love his buildings.  I love the Robie House, I love Falling Water and desperately want to SEE it in person!  I love the Guggenheim Museum in New York-- again I want to SEE it in person!  I mean I want to go to the MET, but I also want to go to the Guggenheim!  I loved that it was in Mr. Poppers Penguins!

On a side note in my research found out some disturbing things about Mr. Wright!  He left his wife and 6 children, met and lived with another lady and came her with her children and built Taliesin in Chicago.  A servant murdered the lady, her two children and 4 other servants!  A year lady Mr. Wright met another woman whom he "lived" with and after divorcing his first wife, married her but soon divorced her too.  Finally he met some from Yugoslavia and they were married and had a child and he was seemingly happy and they lived in Taliesin West which is in Arizona.

WOW.

Anyhoo... so onto what we learned about his ART!

WE studied his home, his style "Prairie Style", what he brought to architecture and about his life.

We made our own "stained glass" using:

We learned architecture terms like "gable", "hip", "mansard", "ribbon style windows" and went outside to observe homes in the neighborhood to see if we could recognize any!

Emily was still in her pajama's so she stayed indoors.  :0)

We used curriculum from GOwright.org

We enjoyed learning about Frank Lloyd Wright and are now ready to move onto our next American artist! Only one more before we start the Impressionist for our next school year!

Busy boy...

Matt was busy a few days ago... He built a entire fort of cardboard, toothpicks and tape (yes, now I need more school supplies). I know the days of THIS are slowly coming to an end and I felt the need to capture it...

 He turned 12 this summer.  12! That is big, I mean as far as Jewish customs are concerned he is one year away from being a man!  I don't know about manhood, but I do know he is growing up... fast.

Gone are the days of little boy tonka trucks, cars lined up across my floor, mega blocks and dinosaurs crowding my kitchen floor...

 I miss those days.  I want him to grow up but, I also can't stand it.  So when I see the army men out, or hear the sound of Lego's being sorted through.... I feel the need to stop time! To just for a minute: STOP and breath in that moment! Because I know eventually the army men will go the way of the tonka trucks and the Lego's will be put away for another generation and LIFE will eat my little boy up instead of dinosaurs....

so for now, I will capture the moment.  I will remember, I will love who he is today and I will look forward to seeing who he becomes tomorrow....

Dangerous thoughts and the truth....

This was posted on a friends Facebook status:

DAYS AGO.

I cannot stop thinking about it.

It IRKS ME.

You know whatm I have read The Feminine Mystique

by the way.. if you read it make sure to have another book like

THE FLIP SIDE OF FEMINISM

to counteract the UNTRUTHS!!!!!!

A bored, unfulfilled women who didn't know GOD made up this term

 “the problem that has no name”—

and put a name to it.

SEXISM.

and it was ON GIRLS!

Oh how mistreated all these poor housewives were.. I mean they HAVE to stay home, they are forced to remain under their husbands rule.... made to slave away in the kitchen and forced to look perfect all the time whilst making their husbands look perfect all the time too.

the truth was there were PLENTY of independent women and happy home makers (well less after she STIRRED the pot and confused the masses with her lies)

but she was just a left wing, communist loving... enabler of a movement that needed women behind it.  She mixed fantasy with reality (reality she was unhappy in her life and choose to believe every other woman must also be) and proceeded to set in motion the existence for women that today has shaped itself into a man hating ( or completely NON MAN needing) identity bent on world domination.  ( over kill but yet true--- listen to Hilary Clinton, Oprah, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, MARIA Shriver, Diane Sawyer---need I go on.)

It's Pinky and the Brain with Estrogen!

She did it guys.  Well it needs to be undone!  The fact that my Facebook friend would post this thanking her mom for NOT being this way is outrageous!  I mean really.  It is so twisted and distorted that it would be funny if it weren't so serious! 

Do I believe men should OWN women and women should have zero say.. etc.  NO, but again if we were living in an age where people would Fall to their knees and repent before GOD.. if were living in an age where people looked at the BIBLE for a Biblical picture of marriage.. if we were living in an age where men loved their wives as much as themselves and treated them accordingly and where wives submitted with glad hearts to husbands who loved them and looked to GOD for guidance... WE MIGHT NOT BE IN THIS MESS.

I understand that not all people are going to be like this and marriages are bad and MEN are not always kind.  I do truly!  But I also know that you choose who you marry and you can make that choice based on biblical principles.  AND for the instances where divorce meets biblical standards GOD has made room for a women to leave a marriage of abuse.

We need to stand up ladies.  WE need to train up our girls in the truth because this worlds agenda hits them with EVERY news article, every TV show, every movie, every book... most of their friends and their friends mothers.. LADIES at your church and even your pastors wives who DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE yet.  It is terrifying.

But God is in control.

My Son and Daughter's Steps are ordered by HIM.  I will train them up in the way they should go.  I will lend their ears to BIBLICAL truths and I will teach them YOUR ways when they are coming and when they are GOING.

I am going to be an AUNT again...

in a possible far off distant future... Amy and Brett are adopting again!  From Ethiopia!

A boy!  And it will most likely be an infant!

But it will possible take up to 36 months or longer.

So add Ethiopia and Amy and Brett to your prayer list.  Start praying for the ONE God has for them now!  And perhaps ready yourself for a few fundraisers.  :0) 

I am so excited and Kirsten is BURSTING with excitement!  She told Kaitlin that she would need LOTS of advice on how to be a big sister!

Woe is me UNTIL WHOA!

Probably about this time every year.. usually a bit earlier I start thinking my kids haven't done enough work- perhaps I am failing them.  YADA, YADA, YADA!  Well a few days ago I was cleaning out my bookshelves (yes, getting rid of some books ***gasp***) and going through boxes and found box after box of the kids work.  THEY DO A LOT of school work.  I need a reminder sometimes though.    So I was feeling all sorry for myself that I was such a failure of a teacher and doing such a bad job-- the kids aren't getting this and the kids aren't getting that and I watched McKenna.  Epiphany!  Her parent SEND her to public school and she needed a tutor.  ( I don't think the kids need a tutor BTW-- )

(also sadly enough I got rid of books but still bought enough books to refill those spots (some of the sold books were out of boxes) to warrant another bookshelf.  #Daveshakeshishead

I know I can be dense sometimes... I just need to learn to not wallow and to walk my path with a lot more courage that I feel!  God is in control and MY kids will NEVER learn everything they NEED to know-- NO matter who teaches them.  BUT while being taught and trained by Dave and myself we can pray and seek God that they learn what GOD would have them know and in HIS timing.  Right!

Its all good right! WHOA

ON a better note with more confidence I decided on Sonlight Core G for Kate and Matt.... I spent HOURS at the local home school stores and Half Price books and have found I think all but 8 books!  I only had to buy 4 of them new and they were still fifty cents to three dollars cheaper than listed in the Sonlight catalog.  I got 5 more of the Ebay still cheaper WITH shipping  and one more at a different Half Price books So I have 2 to order.  :0)

Plus on a bonus I took all those books from my bookshelf to the Home School Store and was given the BLESSING of $113.00 for them so I got to use that to buy the majority of the books!  God is good! 

I have a post coming on ALL the books I bought-- which are a lot.. my savings- how much I SPENT and what I have left to buy! 

Waiting.... waiting.

So many blog friends, and even a few in real life are waiting for something.

Waiting for God to move.

Waiting to hear.

Waiting for "x" to happen.

Waiting... I know that I have been in that place before but right now it just not that season.  We aren't waiting for anything.  We are just trudging.

Definition:

trudge/trəj/Verb: Walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions.

I don't feel exhausted all the time now-- this is more a mental exhaustion...... I am eating fairly decently, actually way less than normal! I don't have TOO many things going on- I mean I am busy but NOT overloaded or anything.  I think I am holding some things in that I need to deal with that I am not...

never good, right?

1. church-- do we stay, do we go?  It's not like there are better ones out there.. we have looked, it is all frustrating.  I really like the Pastor.  I like a lot of the people.  I have tried to involve myself.  I am just trudging.

2. finances-- I want to live in a hovel and eat beans and rice.  {{{sigh}}}  As a rule we make plenty of money and it is truly a matter of using the money wiser.  The wants outweigh the needs here!  I want the kids to be involved in activities... but that takes cash and it dips into our extra.  I want the extra to do this, that and the other.  Do you see.....????  Yes, I know you have the same issue.  We are not out of work.  We are not destitute.  I will say that the hospital bills will hit us a little hard for a while... but it is not long term.... We just have to make some decisions and come together on some things... trudging.

3. school- my exhaustion here is not the act of doing it.. it is that I feel I am going in circles on some topics with the kids and that feels USELESS!  When does "X" sink in?  Why don't they remember something I have talked about for MONTHS?  When do I discipline and when do I share God's grace?  I am trying to involve Dave in this however he is really busy at work (number 4) and so there you have it!  So trudging-- NOT burned out, in fact I am totally gung ho on school right now I just wish some SINKING in would occur!

4. Dave's work-- he has moved positions a while ago and is working more again. There is working late, more calls, ... I feel resentful when there is no extra pay.  ;0)  Then I feel bad because like I said he has a job, a good paying job.  He likes his boss and in fact the new position moves him away from a STUPID boss and back to the boss I love-- good thing!  But still it is just wearing on me I guess..... I want him ENGAGED, plugged in while he is here and don't always get that so I feel resentful, which makes me feel needy, which makes me mad at myself because I hate being a needy person!  BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.... {{{sigh}}} To be truthful he was great during the whole sickness thing and he kept much a float.  He got up and took care of me, went to work, came home and took care of things like grocery shopping or the pool or stuff with the kids.  He carried a lot of weight!  I guess my real complaint is there are not enough hours in the day! 

5. Motions feel like motions... I want to have clean clothes and don't mind doing laundry, really I don't but I also want to make time for other things so I have set up systems.  However my systems don't work if we are not here or if our days take a turn so I need to either tweak the system or be willing to get up earlier which as of right now I am NOT willing to do because I am not sleeping well..... viscous cycle-- do you see?

American Girl McKenna Movie Viewing Party

We had a bunch of girls over last Monday to view the new American Girl Movie out...

The girls came over and right off the bat they clamoured to watch the movie.. they were SO excited!

I had made the girls a goodie bag... with a water bottle (for at the gym), trail mix (for sustenance during your work out), things to make a star bracelet (McKenna's grandmother gave her a star necklace) and finally a notebook for the girls to write poems in (her grandmother also gave her one.)

All the girls had a great time!  After they watched the movie, spent time making their bracelets and playing they started the movie OVER again to wait for the moms to come back!  I think it was a hit!

Heaven Sent Choir-- Spring Concert 2012

Here is the Kirsty Loo Hoo Girl

Here is Kaitlin-- can you see her way in the back there!  My tall girlie girl!

Her first year in choir and she has grown so much.  She sings beautifully.  She has learned so much and enjoys, TRULY enjoys it.  We are so glad to have found a "place" for her! 

This is Kaitlin with her trophy-- voted on by students for Most Improved-- I don't know if any other award would have meant as much as to her-- she was one of the new kids in choir this year and had to work hard to learn so much of what they already knew... she did work hard and all the kids could see how much she had grown from camp week last August to the spring concert!

Matthew's math changes....

 As I mentioned on a post before we are switching Matt from Math U See to Saxon a completely different math program.  We have many reasons for the switch and feel that they are well thought out and that we are making the right decision.  When we did the math placement test for Saxon it placed him at LEAVING 5th grade-- which might sound shocking seeing as he is going INTO 7th grade but I assure you if you know anything about how Math U See works vs. Saxon it is simply a matter of when they teach what...  He was simply missing ANY introduction to decimals or fractions-- which we were well aware that he had not been introduced to.

Being fine with that we chose to go with a tutoring program over the summer to catch him up on the areas he lacks and retake the placement test in Mid August... We have every confidence that he will not only skip 6th grade math but possibly 7th and there is a real chance that he will move INTO pre algebra... to prove this to you let me show you how he is doing in his tutoring program.

He has in the past few days done 5.1 hours of math SINCE June 23..... 5.1 hours of learning (and this is just online with NO help from or discussion from us) and he went from 15% to 28 % on his assessment he just took today!  I think the boy is going to do just fine!  For the most part it is simply a matter of introducing him to the topic... obtuse angle/ acute angle.... tenths, hundredths and thousands, decimals, fractions, common denominators, protractors, quotients  ... he FLYS when there is any algebra involved and LOVES it!

Assessment type / Action	Date	Assessment performance Course Mastery Show: Percent / Topics	Learning data since last assessment
			Topics learned since last assessment	Hours in ALEKS since last assessment	Topics learned per hour since last assessment
Progress Assessment	07/06/2012	28 %	0	-	-
Initial Assessment	06/25/2012	15 +12 %	38	5.1	7.5
Free Trial Assessment	06/23/2012	12 %

School marms, sticks and inkwells... school in the early 1900's

Earlier this Spring (yes, this post is REALLY late) we went to the Fort Bend Museum...

we toured the museum and the John M. Moore Home on the property.  John Moore was in the state legislature and U.S. Congress.  On the same property, although we did not tour it this time (the kids and I have previously toured it during our study of Texas History) is the Jane Long Home-- who is the Mother of Texas. 

During our tour, we were able to experience life for school children in the early 1900's.

 The kids used slates and wrote with quill pens. 

They learned about how kids were expected to behave... shame on YOU Brenda!

and not behave. 

The kids then got to go outside and learned all about chores!

 and experience games from the same time period!  Hoops, stilts and lots of sunshine! 

We ended our tour with a picnic lunch.. It was a great day!

Currently... June 2012

Currently loving...the show  Love it or List It.... I like that it gets the House Hunters and realtors in the same show as a renovation!  It is what I like about both sides of HGTV all in one show.  Of course I want to beat some of the people but it is the concept I enjoy NOT the people!  :-)

Currently reading...FOR THE KIDS: Guardians of G'hoole (for Kaitlin) a friend has read the whole series and so I have agreed to read it.  I will say that the idea is intriguing but I have my concerns... I am just wondering where they are going with some of the ideals.  FOR ME: The Princess (Lori Wick) one of my all time favorite books.  FOR GROWTH: Secret Place Revealed by Pastor Kevin Kinchen
FOR SCHOOL: Anne of Green Gables (actually listening on Itunes- unabridged)

Currently waiting for...normal.  It is getting there!
Currently excited about...planning and doing!  I am ready to DO things.  I have Pinterest projects planned, I get to order curriculum in 17 days and I have a mini school unit to do!  I am a theme girl so anytime I have a theme I am GOLDEN! 

Currently missing...normal.  I mean in the sense of my current situation of course.... just everyday normal but also missing normal in the family.  Dealing with "D" is hard and I just feel like I am struggling with the weirdness and not knowing how to behave.  Do I "defriend" on Face book?  It is all just weird to me....and no one really wants to talk about it.... and I struggle with that also.

Currently trying...to be thankful. 

Currently working at.. keeping my fear in check and anxiety at a minimum.

Currently enjoying...having a swimming pool... The kids love every minute of it.  I do not regret or resent ONE minute of the work that it takes to maintain the pool.  It is worth it.  The kids often swim twice a day-- some times even three times!  I love it!  We stay out of the pool basically between 12-4 and are careful with lots of sunscreen.. I love and am glad that they are getting so much outside time and exercise!   

Currently using...Aleks online math program for Matt to catch up on some skills and really enjoying it.  I am seriously considering signing up for myself and going through it to brush up on stuff... I think it would help to be able to deal with the kids math if I was brushed up myself! 

Currently wearing...pajama's... basically all I have been wearing for 35 days....  :0)

Currently planning...some school stuff.  Matt's birthday party (very low key) and an American Girl Mckenna MOVIE premier party!

Currently singing...um nothing right now.  :0)

Currently needing...for my current situation to be dealt with, for life to get back to normal on a completely different note I need to get to work decorating this home.  I have been seriously PINNING!   

Currently learning...everything I ever wanted to know about IEW plus some (the kids writing curriculum for next year)

Currently listening to... HGTV  (shocker!) and Lucy is still talking even though it is night time!

 Currently wishing...I had a Sonic Ice machine.  Who doesn't wish that?

Currently doing...well blogging obviously, and fixing to grade Emily's math.  I am waiting to take a pain pill sadly and after that blessed sleep.

Currently praying for...healing. about how to deal with a situation with a friend. about our finances and about some food choices (not a diet but OUR diet)   

Currently dreaming of... a vacation... actually when people say they dream of a vacation I think of beaches or watching HGTV all the time.. I don't want that soooo I am currently dreaming of a very busy week and a half of seeing tons of wonderful things and family together and awesome pictures and experiences!

a trip to the zoo... May 2012

A couple of weeks ago-- okay more than a couple of weeks ago now.... we went to the zoo with friends from church.  Rachel and Ruthie are sisters and are just precious!  They invited us to the zoo and we had the greatest time!  We missed out on feeding the giraffes because it was crowded and I didn't see the sign with times.  I was bummed... but we will go back-- just not until the fall (I am a summertime crowd snob remember!)

We lazily made our way around the zoo finally to the back new African section which was really well done! I have lived in the Houston area my whole life so I have watched this zoo change so much! 

Just a side note memory.....
When I was young the apes were under where the lions are now and it was like a cave... the apes would THROW their feces across the huge gaping crevice area and it would hit the back wall where visitors were standing.  That wall was always stained.  I don't ever remember SEEING them do this but it was obvious that they did. 

We missed out on the Children's zoo because it started to rain, but we had such a wonderful time!

and I don't know what kind of animal THIS is... what is this look!

I have no words. 

First swim of the season....2012

MAY 2012

Obviously very long overdue post!  But here are the kids enjoying the pool for the first time this season.  They worked VERY hard to help clean the pool and get it clean and ready for swimming. 

It's a whole new world...... transcripts, GPA's and credits Oh, MY!

We are entering a different time period altogether. I have never graded, kept records or cared about transcripts! There has been no need. We teach to mastery, if someone wants my records they can look at my blog OR go through BOXES upon boxes of finished books, and transcripts are not needed in elementary school! As we look toward the future things are changing. I started thinking about it last year and really began moving things around in my head to make room for all the upcoming changes that will be taking place! We began looking LAST year for curriculum that would put us on the path we needed to be on! SO we made a few changes with MORE changes coming this year in preparation for next year.

Change #1 - science. We needed Kaitlin on track to start Apologia sciences, it would have been nice for her to start General Science in 7th, but I actually love that Matt and Kate are doing it together and will actually finish out their sciences together instead of me teaching three separate sciences!

Change #2- math. Kaitlin we are keeping on with Math U see, but Matt we have chosen to switch to Saxon. Matt is currently looking towards a more scienc"y" degree, possibly being an engineer and while we like Math U See and believe that it teaches math in an exceptional way... Matt will benefit from Saxon. Dave used Saxon- We can get Matt caught up to match his math with his sciences. We feel we need to make sure to do OUR job to give him the best foundation we can! This might also be the route for Emily as she also "sees" math much more like Dave than Kate and I, but we are not sure and feel we will give it one more year to decide!


Change #3- grades. I am going to start actually grading Kate's work. Yuck. Not really excited about this of course. I have every intention of continuing with our mastery plan.. I mean you do it till you learn it right! But do you put the first grade they initially got down? Do you put the grade after they checked their work down? HMMM... anyone?

Change #4- basically just the keeping track of everything and anything.  We need to track of our hours, track our grades, track our activities.... I tried last year to get into the habit of some of it but will focus this year on REALLY doing it!  This is very hard for me....I plan for Dave to set me up an Excel worksheet to track and calculate everything and I will only need to fill in the numbers. 

So what changes are coming up in your schooling choices....

math games....

If you are currently a home schooler and NOT on Pinterest well, I just don't understand!  It is wonderful!  Just having the INTERNET at our disposal is wonderful enough, but to already have all these wonderful sites PINNED and marked is awesome!

Here are a few of the math games I have either been having the girls use or plan to use with the girls soon....

I am trying to link up with orginal links... if you find anything to be unfairly linked please let me know and I will change it.  ;-)



PIN:
I have, Who has ... Place Value  (this is like the game Wrap Around that we enjoy so much!)
100 mile dash

online MATH GAMES..
a baseball mulitplication practice sight...  NO ads attached to this or links off of it.
a timed test where you can print out an award when you are done.  :0) no ads or links off of this page.
timed test-- harder and very challenging you are given the answer and must tell what two numbers mulitply to equal it. 
mulitplication== SUM SENSE also challenging. no links off this
time


PIN:
Domino Math sheet download from website  First Grade School Box
Card Games Math---

PIN:

Double this= download (I am thinking to change these numbers and use it for any math area you are working on.   for instance you could use higher numbers in the bubbles and mulitply every number by 7's or 9's?  Here is the  link for instructions... once you go to this link just scroll down until you get to  DOUBLE THIS for the instructions. 

PIN:
Elimination gameboard
Elimination directions

Multiplication GO FISH
Multiplication RACING RECTANGLES (works on multiplying and finding area!)
Gain or Loss  addition/ subtraction game directions
Gain or Loss print out sheet you do have to sign up for a site for this free down load...you can easily make this sheet to play this game with out it.
Math Toss- interesting... seems a little timely to set up but you could keep changing the numbers making them larger and get use our of the idea for any operation you choose and the kids are DOING something.

PIN:
MATH WAR GAMES with deck of cards
Lets Play Math blog-- lots of stuff!
    20+ things to do with a 100 chart


a few math apps for the IPhone I have found:
Math races LITE APP
Burn Your Brain APP
Make 24 Lite APP

Matthew turns 12...

I cannot believe it. I want so much to keep watching and seeing the young man he is turning into but I also want to stop time...

The kids have missed out on a lot of activities and have been stuck at home for over a month now for the most part.... but we had weeks ago promised to take them to see Brave.  I have not really been left alone except for a very short time period between one person leaving and Dave coming home and we were trying to figure out when the best time to go was.  Matt came to Dave and said that he knew how much the girls really wanted to go and that he didn't want me to be home alone and volunteered to stay home with me... I mentioned to Brenda that I think Dave swelled up with pride!  It was such a sweet moment. 

He is growing up.  There are so many character traits that we work on... but he is so sweet and can be so caring.  I am so proud of him.  I know that he will struggle but that I pray that HE will continue to seek GOD's word and use it as a measure of HIS character.


We are having a party later on this week but for his birthday today.. he got to pick breakfast...

Dave and he went to Freebirds for lunch!

Becky and the family came over and brought cookie and cream ice cream for dessert and we had pizza for the kids and brisket sandwiches for the adults. 

We gave him part of his present today and it was SURPISE.. BOOKS!  Brian (my brother) had already given him The Hobbit, but we could only get it in a pack altogether so we bought it this way.  If he loves it as much as we THINK he will I am sure we will at some point buy a really nice set. 

Another Update: you know since it has been a month.

Well, this has been a wonderful month... I have really gotten to stay at home, spend a lot of quality time with my family, just veg out and watch HGTV a lot...on the other hand IT IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.  :0)  Since  June 3 I have been dealing with KIDNEY STONES.  Because most of my lovely readers already know this I will not go on and on about everything....I will just say this. I am so very, very sorry for anyone who deals with kidney stones.

We are of course dealing with a lot financially-- we have pretty good insurance and an FSA but 3 ER visits, 2 surgeries, doctors visits, a lot of medicines have very quickly added up!

 a few other things have gone on this month too....

• we got a new dishwasher!  If you remember my parents own this home and we are renting so basically we have AWESOME landlords!  When it came time for a new dishwasher we opted to go in together to buy a REALLY good one and I am excited.  It is nice and so far working very well--- it takes forever though!
• we kept Max- Amy and Brett's new dog, so cute!  and wow puppies are a lot of work!
• we kept mom and dad's dog AND Brian's dog (they had cancelled a trip because of my surgery but when the date was changed they ended up getting to go-- I was so glad since I felt bad they had cancelled it...we love keeping the dogs- we get to send them home!)
• we have been incredibly blessed with friends and family-- meals, helping with the kids, babysitting me--- asking if we need anything!  Such an amazing blessing!
• we have continued on with school-- we missed a few days between my being really sick and the week recovering from the first surgery but have done pretty well keeping up since then.  I am behind where I wanted to be but feel pretty good about the fact that we are WHERE we are!
• Emily finished up her Sound of Music play... more on that in another post.
• we have missed out on a number of summer activities that I planned but it is what it is, right! 
• Dave has already used a number of vacation days (so blessed that he has a lot!)
• I learned today that my second surgery is postponed from Tuesday (today) until July 3-- this is really disheartening... I am hurting.  I am in limbo.  I am taking a boat load of meds that I would LOVE to be not taking.  I am not taking care of my family. I am tired and pretty much discouraged.  SO much of the kidney stone thing seems to be: Well WE DON'T KNOW....

I guess that is about all--- I promise some real updates soon and some pictures!  I will also hopefully also do a school sum up! 

Kirsty Loo Hoo....

 

She is a crazy girl!  This is almost a year ago. There are just no other words for this crazy girl!
She just turned 11!  I can't believe that 11 years ago we were waiting for that plane to land and bring this tiny, tiny, TINY little thing into our lives!

Summer school- begins..

We started back up to school today.  We had ALL last week off-- because of a technical break but we had most of the week off before because of sickness (which sadly bled into our technical break).... but even before that we were only at about 60%!  But we finished our "school year" and started our summer school plan today- 3 day a week school.  I am sooo excited! 

We will have two days a week off- with ZERO school (if I see there is a huge struggle in math we will up our math- but we are going to try it this way for right now.)  The kids are excited and I am excited knowing I only have three days a week to plan/ DO! 

Today was the first day of having MF for our full school day.  She has been schooling with us the past couple of weeks, focusing on math-- but she has been doing Bible, spelling and English with us too, but today she entered the land of EVERYTHING THOMPSON ACADEMY has to offer.

She will be schooling with us next year too-- so yeah.  4 kids.  :0) 

A funny story-- of course whenever you are used to teaching your kids things become second nature so I have to stop and explain some things to MF that she is not yet used to doing.  I really need to communicate better because today I told her a very "teachery" thing.  She had done spelling words 3 x each and I asked her to put 3 x each at the top and her name.  I looked at the paper a few minutes later and she had written Mary Mary Mary across the top line.  I laughed and laughed.  I explained what I needed and that I need to remember to explain things better and if she has a question she needs to make sure and ask... It was so funny.

I guess that's all folks!  It was a good day!

aha moment...

I had an aha moment this morning with my kids.

Now hear me out-- I am NOT a dumb person and will not pretend that I will not have to have this aha moment again in the near future but really...

Emily did something and I said to her..."Emily if you do "x" again, I just don't know if I will be responsible for how I react."

and it hit me.  YES, I WILL.

I don't care if she has done it for the 50th time that day.  I don't care if the kids are HELLIONS that day.  I don't care if they have told a thousand lies, lit the house on fire, sold my I phone and racked up thousands of dollars in debt....


I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REACTION TO IT.

Aha moment.

Happenings....

We have been sick. Strep throat.  yuck.

I bought a new rug a couple of weeks ago.. and it is one of my favorite things-- but it is getting dirty.  What to do? What to do? 

My van stopped working LAST Monday (that would be Monday a week ago) and was in the shop all week-- we just got it back on Monday that would be this Monday) and on Wednesday it stopped working-- different problem.  Yes, I know.

Dave has been on a  trial since last Thursday.  Hung Jury.  He had a rough time of and has yet to process all his thoughts-- a girl is dead, an 18 year old is now free (for now) and where is the justice?

My sister in law--whom I don't know at which point I cease calling her my sister in law changed her face book status to unmarried the other day... for some reason out of all this mess- that made me really, really sad.  I am still completely unsure how I am supposed to feel... it is surreal.

I reading Grace for the Good Girl--

 a book that I knew a year ago when I saw the promo video that it would be a book I would read.  I bought it a month after it came out-- in OCTOBER.  I am just now reading it.  It is going to be harsh, but speak truth.  You know that about a book when you put down the introduction four times and it has taken you 5 days to read....

I would like to state again that I am thankful for my FSA-- shame on you Obama for screwing with them....

I am NOT dieting.  I mean there are certain things I am not eating... but certain things that I AM and I need to get back on track.  I have this vision in my head of how I am going to behave (diet and exercise wise)  but it is almost like the saying a writer can't put pen to paper.  When you can't get the words out so a story goes untold... I feel like I can't make the vision I see for myself happen.  Does that make any sense at all???  I want it out of my head and into actions... it is doing NO good in my head.

Dealing with NOT dealing with things and NOT making things better is hard for me.  I like to fix things.  I am a fixer.  Standing back and not fixing.....gives me anxiety.  Lets just say I am dealing with anxiety right now! 

We took the entire week of school off--- (before we knew we were sick- so that worked out well).  We have taken TONS of days off but rarely have the kids had an ENTIRE week of No school.  They were amazed... and I have a feeling they like it a little too much.  So this weekend I am jump starting us a little by starting new chore charts and re arranging the school room and "talking" up our summer plans to hopefully get them excited.  It is working on two of them....

Emily wants to do a sport this summer.  I should be really happy about this-- and glad to have her participate.... but I just feel ugggghhh.  Shame on me.

My IRL friend and blogger Brenda @ The Family Revised had her baby.  I just wanted to mention that....Baby Bee..... 

I have pinned and pinned and pinned lately!  I have plans to work on three of those pin- this weekend and into next week-- I will let you know how that goes. TIRED of pinning awesome crap and never doing it!

I had hoped that putting Emily in drama would decrease the drama at home if she had an outlet-- Yeah I know, it's not working for me.

Matthew has been attempting to watch some eating habits-- of his own volition. It is not enough to make any real change but it is a great step in a good direction! I think some of it is simply a mind set that he is breaking out of and some is because he beginning to understand that his choices are controllable.

4 days left!!!

Alrighty Then!

The Texas Education Code requires that public schools meet 180 days per year; public school students must attend 170 days/year.

I just cut off 10 days from my 180 day year because Texas Education code allows me too-- truly I don't have to actually follow TEC, but as I CHOOSE to follow it and I am a rule follower-- I am totally psyched about this new stipulation!  Obviously the extra 10 days are to allow those who were absent to still meet the required 170 days!  We school all together-- so WE MEET IT!  There are no absentees in my school!

So as of today I have 4 more days of school!!!!!!

I think I am going to take a week off! NO GUILT!

Of course then I just think about what taking a week off will do to my plans for next "years" curriculum and I change my mind about a week off. 

THEN I think why on earth do I feel the need to start August 1?

and the merry- go- round keeps spinning!

SO the big decision is TAKE A WEEK OFF.  I told the kids and they were busting with excitement!  Then I told them we would do school 3 days a wek (minus math which will be 4) until we are through our current curriculum or a stopping point that makes sense. 

They are completely, insanely... excited!

and you know what I am excited too.




           

Sunday Sum Up: Day 156-160 (still playing catch up-- this should have gone out THIS Sunday!)

Monday

we had our busy day with theater AND history....

Emily is doing really well and I really like a lot of the ladies-- I am sure it will get harder as we get closer but thankful that we have 11 more rehearsals until the big day!

I am teaching for the next 5 chapters in history and that will lead us up to World War I...

today I covered Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson and we also studied about the culture of the day: dress, home, jobs, political climate and people like Dwight L. Moody and Fanny Crosby.

We watched a movie called The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band

we also watched An American Tail

when we got home from Amy's the kids did math and Latin.
FULL DAY!

Tuesday:

We slept in a little and then the kids went for a swim (PE right!)  we had lunch and started school after lunch.  I want to say again that I like after lunch school (thank you Brenda!)

We read from Little Women
We did our Bible and review
We started math-- which ended up taking a LONG time!

The kids read

and then I started working on the school room and no other school got done--but I am ready for tomorrow and have my copying done and flashcards ready so I feel good.

Plus I folded a ton of laundry this morning and did two loads of dishes... so lots got done!

Wednesday:

the kids swam early- they got too much sun yesterday. 

We started school with our new spelling exercises.  They went over smashingly (insert sarcasm)

I worked on a money review with the girls and started Matt and Kate writing out their vocab cards...

My morning is so far NOT going as planned as we have veered from our usual things we do and I don't have a handle on how long these added activities will take yet.  But we are pressing on!

I had the girls glue their vocab words/ pictures onto a card for reviewing also.

We watched part of An American Tail again during lunch!

We read Little Women

We did Bible and English.

We also started reading about Frank Lloyd Wright as our newest artist.

We also did logic.

Thursday:

We had theater--- costuming is a lot of work and I am not even doing the majority of the work! 

This is Emily's paper she filled out for theater that I got a picture of.. I find it hilarious that she answered YES to telling the director something! 

After theater we came home and did a little school. 

later that day Kaitlin and I went to the 4H County meeting.  Kate had a lot of fun!

Friday:

We had school-- we did spelling, English, math, Bible, read Little Women and the kids got to swim.

Later that evening we went to the LOCAL 4H meeting--- Kaitlin go elected as a county delegate (which means that she goes to all the district meetings and takes notes and comes back to report to her local meeting) 

This is her doing her "speech" on why she wants to be on the leadership team- (take note of the current president, he sure doesn't look interested!)  :0)  -- we also need to discuss STANCE!  :0)

Here is the entire LaPorte 4 H council for next year-- Sarah Tindall made president!

Sunday Sum Up: Day 131-135 (the unfinished, un- updated week... with no pictures AND it's not even Sunday!!)

Monday:

We went ALL day long.  We left the house at 8:00 and got home at 6:00.  Whewww.  We had theater and history at Amy's.  We are at the Spanish American War (1898)---so excited to  about to hit the 1900's!  Over the next 8 weeks we will work our way to World War II.  So we have loads of presidents, loads of regulations and federal DEPARTMENTS to be set up, a depression, Prohibition, World Exhibitions, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the Roaring Twenties.. GANGSTA's... TONS of exciting stuff!

Tuesday:

Matt and Emily treated us to McDonald's- their oatmeal is pretty good actually.  We did chores and also worked on starting a few spring cleaning tasks. I have a LONG list.

The kids did math, vocab and read.  

We are finishing up learning about Louise Comfort Tiffany today and will start our new artist tomorrow!

We did physics. 

We also did Bible, English and Emily's Rod and Staff



Wednesday:

We did Bible- I want to say again we love this curriculum!  It digs deep, it is a little much for Emily but it's okay she is still learning every day!


Math

English- 2 lessons

vocab

and  the kids watched the Apple Dumpling Gang


I didn't even finish the update! ;0)  WE did school stuff for two more days that week!