Ummm, what happened to all my plans???

It is Spring Break for all around us here locally.  We weren't going to take Spring Break....


I had plans:  Lots of school catch up would get done
Lots of EBay would get listed
Garden would get planted
Daily chores would be done
Garage sale would be had or we would go garage sale-ing
Graduation to do's would be done
Meals would be cooked


It seems school breaks never quite pan out to be what I hope them to be...


This weekend while out of town, a sick kid...No big deal right?? Except I sleep on a COT with him NEXT to me.  Okay when he was 2,3, 4 years old...but now he is bigger.  Since the sleep study and changes made in life, THE MAN is growing and well, sleep is over rated anyhow. Right?  If not on the cot, then not at all.  Or maybe in a hotel chair.  Or maybe on the floor next to him, on an air mattress...which just isn't the same when you are 40.  He feels better.


So we are home and my body rebels on Monday. Huge knots that my daughters can see all over my back.  Exhausted, I sleep, nap, stare off into distance.  He feels better. 


Tuesday comes and maybe things won't be so bad, garden is cleaned out.    But he is wheezy.  Breathing treatments.  NO time outside is allowed...so I spend all my time policing him and trying to get him to stay inside.  The garden is beckoning.  NOPE!  Dad comes home, I get the shopping done for the garden, take big brother to golf practice and do the parent meeting thing.
Then nighttime rolls around.  I can't sleep.  His breathing is off.  He is restless.  Talking, crying, and teeth grinding in his sleep.  I snuggle and pray over him.  Watch him relax as prayers are answered.  More breathing treatments in the night.  Constant running of the diffuser... He says it helps some. He relaxes and sleeps for another 15 minute spell. I realize why people like their e-readers.  No lights need to be on.  My IPad is my other companion through the night.  Might as well do something since I am NOT sleeping.  He finally relaxes and breathing easy.  I dose off, but not for long.  Gut wrenching body wracking coughs.  I can hear deep down in his chest.  This is NOT good! I work to convince my body I was just joking, we weren't really going to sleep.  Good news, it is 7:30.  Another breathing treatment.  Now I can call the doctor's office. 
Appointment made, teenagers woke.  Dad called at work.  Oldest drives the zombie mom to the doctor office.  Pneumonia!  Ear infection! 
The best part....My teenagers are well trained in caring for the sick. :)  Home and I go to bed.  I am awaken a few times.  I have no concept of time.  Just crazy spy riddled dreams...guess what they were watching on tv??? 4 hours later I am staring off into nowhere trying to decide if I am awake or asleep still and wondering what happened to my Spring Break??
I realize another crazy school break.  I wonder about taking next week off so I can get my to do list done.  And I realize this is the twisted pattern of all of our school breaks and why our breaks always end up extended.  Just want my "perfect break". 
Then I hear the whisper: "For I know the plans I have for you...."
I choose to not ask why my plans can't be accomplished.  I suck down my Pepsi.  Yep, it is back but not to the extent it used to be, I think today is considered special circumstances.  Grateful, my kids hop to it when I assign chores.  My obnoxious pre-teen quits badgering me about when I am starting school because I tell him to go get the lesson plan book.  I think I hear angels singing Hallelujah!! 
There is still time this week for the to do list. 
This blog post wasn't on the list but maybe it will help someone else. 

Home School High School Transcripts

The dreaded transcript. 
Talk about breathing fear and dread into the soul of a home school mom.
They make or break the college admission process for these kids.
Or so they seem.
All in all, the idea is not really complicated. 
The process in creating them, can be daunting.
The whole process started somewhere around seventh grade. 
Planning out course of study, dotting i's and crossing t's.
Then life happened and I started the stress all over again between sophomore and junior year. 
This past fall, I needed transcripts.  We were doing dual enrollment.
Once I discovered to shelve my anxiety, the process wasn't so daunting.  Especially, now that we have the internet.
Donna Young's website of free reproducibles has this awesome template available.
I just entered the information and did the math for GPA and voila all done.
Fast forward to November and College Applications and my life changed.
You see, now I need to record all these dual credit classes and the classes intended for next semester.
How do I fit in College name next to course study?
How do I explain GPA calculations?
Insert 3-4 hours of work on a Sunday afternoon.
I started with the intent to recreate my document.  Meaning no TEMPLATE.
Never having created a Word Document with tables before, I tried to follow the instructions in Transcriptions Made Easy, by Janice Campbell.  The whole process ended up with a grouchy momma.  I took a break, got something to eat and the light bulb went off.  I had made enough progress in creating a document from the blank new page, to discover I just needed to add some details to the comment section of the transcripts I already filled out earlier in the year.
At the bottom of my transcripts, along with GPA calculations and grade values, I noted abbreviations.  I did have to become a bit creative here, as my daughter is attending Friends University.  Just using initials did not look too appropriate next to course of study.  I indicated credits represented high school credit only, not college credit. 
All that I have left now is to buy the pretty paper in which I need for printing the transcripts. 

When homeschooling gets to the youngest child....

The answers you get to questions are quite humorous. They have so many more varied experiences the older siblings didn't have, just because they get dragged around following the older siblings. :)
For instance the following questions in his Explode the Code workbooks:
Can a stitch be made in a dish? yes.  Really?  "But Mom it is plausible!" "If you want to use a dish when you knit you can stitch in a dish."   What really killed me, is he used plausible in a sentence and used it correctly!!  Probably from watching all those Myth Buster episodes!

Will you get rich if you sell trash?  yes.  Really?  Well if the trash has gold in it, you can....  He has been to way too many garage sales.  He, also, has a grandpa that likes to junk and strip items down to elements to be taken to the recycling center where he is paid by the weight.  If you are a kid, any money in the pocket amounts to being rich! 

A word well spoken

I love home schooling.  I love the mornings and listening to the various exchanges between my children as the day begins.  I never know what I will wake to, a hungry cat, a dog digging in the trash, a ball crashing through the house, the beep beep of a video game, or the serenades of my youngest favorite song of the morning.  Sometimes, I wake to find lots of school work being done.  However, I often wake up to some kind of ruckus, a skirmish of sorts filled with laughter or run and hide I have antagonized a sleepy bear like brother and he is going to get me kind of skirmish. 

This past week, I have been left pondering the exchange between two of my children.  Left in awe of the maturity and wisdom in the response of one child.  Pondering how do I respond and where did this child of mine learn a response such as this?  I am realizing my children are growing up and my role is changing.
You ask what did my child say?

As I was peeking out from the covers debating whether I wanted to leave their warmth, I hear pounding on a bathroom door.  "You have been in there 20-25 minutes, I need the shower."  I am prepared for bathroom drama.  Muffled noises, I can only imagine the response as I know the name of the child on the other side of the door.  And then the response, "The past doesn't matter (as when I showered last), I need to take a shower and I would appreciate you respecting that."  Not said with attitude.  Not said with sass or anger.  Said matter of fact and respectfully.

At that moment I was so proud of this child and relayed that information.  No arguing.  No hurt feelings.  Just to the point. 

Shortly after the door opened.  No bickering, drama, door slamming or hatefulness.  Just stepping aside and offering the respect and bathroom as requested.  A word well spoken, a soft word and where wrath could of reigned it was turned away.  Without knowing it, these 2 children have left their Momma pondering and reflecting on the choices they have made.  I am humbled by the maturity and growth they are both demonstrating.  As I remember the impatience and frustration I often exhibit, I am grateful to see they don't always follow their Momma's example. 

Reading Joys!!

One of the things I don't enjoy is teaching the kids to read! 
I homeschool.  What is wrong with me?  I hear moms say how wonderous the task is to cuddle up to their child and listen to them discover the mystery of the printed word.  Nope not here. 
KUUUU aaaaaaaaaaaaa TTT 
KUUUU aaaaaaaaaaaaa TTT
KUUUU aaaaaaaaaaaaa TTT
Cat already!!! let's move onto the next word please and it starts all over again. 
5 minutes to read one sentence.  Bring me the super glue and toothpicks to hold my eyes open.  We have read this mommy to sleep more than one afternoon and sometimes morning as we labor through the process. 
It is miraculous. It is wonderful when they learn to read.  But this miracle doesn't happen with the immediate task of sit down and open a book.  It is a process.  A long one in the midst of life. 

Much to my JOY my younger two have been really quick to take off. 
YEs!!! Smiley face does a happy dance.
The next hurdle to tackle is reading one's Bible and Awana workbooks, not to mention all the instructions on one's school work. 
The Man is hard at work.  Today he has discovered he can read the names of the Books of the Old Testament.  You see to finish last years book, one of the things he must do is recite all books of the Old Testament.  A fact I find humorous, some of the names can be difficult for an adult to say.  Take a tooth losing, lisping, & whistling first grader and have him say all the books of the Old Testament.  Absolutely adorable.  I must say, I have had a few chuckles over my kids mis-pronunciations over the years.  The Man had half of them memorized last spring.

 

 

You know what that means, he has to review and re-learn all of them this fall. 
Since he has to wait for me to sit down and work on his mom-led lessons today, I asked him to work on his memory work, handwriting and math. 
I had no idea he had crossed over and could read/recognize the incredibly long and difficult names of the Old Testament books.  But he has!!!!
He has followed me around EVERYWHERE reciting/reading the Books of the Bible. 
EVERYWHERE.  ALL DAY LONG. 
While I tried to teach Middle School Science, he was across the room, "Did you hear me?" 
"Did I get them right?" 
When we were discussing Romeo and Juliet there were murmurs of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus...
When we left the house, I was captive.
Joshua Judges Ruth.....Nahum, Obadiah 
When I go to the bathroom, there is a closed door, but I am still captive, until I flush and wash my hands. First and Second Chronicles
Then the sound of running waters drowns out all other noises.
All through lunch, all through Thursday activities, while I walk into the house, while I put things away, I hear...
First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings.......Isaiah, Jeremiah....Zephaniah, Malachi. 
"How do you say this name again?"  Genesis.
"First and Second Psalms"  He knows it is not Psalms but for some reason Samuel and Psalms, well they go together like ham and cheese.
Don't forget Judges...
"I will start over;  Joshua, Ruth..."
"Can I borrow your phone so I can time myself?"  34.8 seconds later he has read/recited all the books.
He tries again.  30 seconds!  Best time yet. 
I asked for 3 minutes so I could type this, just 3 minutes of not being talked to and he humbled me so quickly.  In spite of all the humor and truth I kept reminding myself all day, he is the last one.  There are no more kids to follow you around like this.  This will pass all quickly.  This is awesome.  There was the me, that just wanted to not be talked to for just 10 minutes.  I have been juggling 5 conversations and sometimes more and half a million different tasks all day.  1o minutes of brain rest.
In his most endearing way, "Thank you Mom for listening me say the Books of the Bible"

The war of insanity inside me that just wanted a quiet closet for a minute, melted away. 

And now he is back, asking me, "Are the 3 minutes up?"  Sure are.
"Where is my book?"  Where you last put it. (LOL)
And it begins again....Genesis Exodus....

 

Alternatives to stubborness!

Monday was my first day back in the saddle.  Suprisingly, I met the morning without any dread.  I asked hubby for last week off from normal duties.  Often times I do that and then push through and do stuff anyways.  Last week, that wasn't happening God and my body pretty much made me rest.  I didn't get much done other than what was on the calendar appointment wise.  There are big decisions coming, but first the discussing needs to happen and the prayer.  For now, I just put one foot in front of the other...after my prayer filled shower.  I don't know why it is, but my prayer closet is the shower.  The only time these days I pretty much can't be disturbed.  Alone in the warm shower, I am able to be quiet and seek the Lord about my day, my thoughts are sorted and I have direction.  And Lord Help Us, if my shower gets delayed!  Today, was one of those days, but it worked.  It worked for the best because I had a chance to meet the disagreeables and argumentatives first and I knew what the battle was before me for the day...and because I wasn't going to argue, I assigned a chore or two and headed to the shower before I became grumpy. 

The battle:  Whether learning how to make a map was important?  Whether maps were important at all?  Why should I have to do it again, when I already did it and I did the best I could the first time?
AIY!  Somewhere in there I heard a voice speak about technology and SIRI and GPS and I honestly don't know if it was the sarcastic inner me talking or it was one of the kids.   But AIY!   First I addressed redoing the assignment issue....We do our best and sometimes we learn our error and retry because we know our best is now not the best we can do, because we can easily redo and fix our mistake.  In otherwords practice and practice may not make perfect, but it makes better and leading to our best.  SO NOT THE ANSWER someone wanted! 

And to the shower I go.... and since the morning was almost gone, I exit the shower with a plan and instructions for all children to be ready to go in 10 minutes.  Yep, I am so able to pull that off these days. 

My plan: The children will navigate me to Big Sis's job where we will drop her off.  Then they will navigate me to McDonald's and then to the Zoo.  Fun Girl freaks!  Convinced we will be late.  And the extra 15 minutes of drive time I have allotted will not be enough.  Silly girl.  The did great and we arrived with minutes to spare. 

THE MAN begged for a turn, and so it was granted.  He had to direct me to the nearest McDonald's.  He is 7.  Not one sibling had an ounce of faith that he could do it.  But I had listened to him in the car and he was amazing.  He has an awesome sense of direction.  To everyone's delight we arrived in good time and there was food to quiet the natives.  Not the best of food, but food nonetheless...I was doing this on zero prep time, but on totally on God's clock!

The next task...navigate me to the zoo!  THE MAN jumps on this one and quickly starts telling me which way to turn.  None of the others dared to try.  He was awesome, directing me the whole way with affirmation from Hockey Player! 

At the Zoo:  Child 4 picks an animal to visit..Child 5 navigates the way using the map.  Then Child 3 picks an animal and Child 4 navigates the way but including a bathroom stop along the way.  Child 2 and 3 the next and so forth.  We had to modify the plan along the way as I started to fatigue near the end.  The point, to learn to read a map and appreciate a legend and compass rose.

 

Success!
As the momma was getting droopy she saw the lying lions and wanted to join them.

 

Shortly after getting home and trying to work on seat work
these cubs were down for the count!

and this one found a sunny spot.

 



Suprises, a double take and a double dose in learning about Compassion

We spent the day in the car again. 
A Thursday kind of day.
A late start in the morning, Awana the night before and it takes everyone a while to wind down and share their stories of the night.
Piano lessons and back and forth from home, because not everyone has to go.
In the back and forths, running Fun Girl to work.
Back home for a quick lunch.
Then to Bal-A-Vis-X.
Then to the grocery store to get the latest ad.
My day stops here.
I am lost in my own world as I sit in the car and wait for Hockey Player to run in, grab the ad and come back to me, stopped at the curb.  He comes to the door and says, someone fell. 
I quickly recall the vague thud I heard and start looking around.
A deep intake of my breath.
A "grandpa" is down  in the parking lot and 2 ladies were helping him.
I quickly put my hazard lights on, put the burb in park and tell the kids to stay.
I see the ladies are talking to him and I run inside to tell Customer Service someone has fallen.  They quickly send the managers out.
He is a little disoriented. His face is banged up and he is bleeding quite a bit from his scrapes.
He misjudged the curb/ground and face planted.
My heart was in my throat.
He just wanted to get in his car and drive home to the next block over where he lives in Assisted/Independent Living facility.
But he is so disoriented. 
Rides are offered. A chair is offered. Paper towels.  Someone got ice.
I ask him the name of where he lives.
Blessedness that it is, I am very familiar with his residence. I have family there. I quickly call.  They send over their Director of Nursing and instruct us to call an ambulance. 
The managers do that. 
I see he is being well cared for and try to gracefully exit.
I stop at the care facility to give them a first hand account for when he returns later on...as disoriented as he is he might not be able to tell them much.  Plus to let them know he has 2 bags of refrigerated items. 
All the while grateful he is well cared for and being watched out for. 
As I return my car, I hear one of children ask why I had to get out of the car and  help?
My eye brows shot up.
Because it was the right thing to do I am thinking.
I try to say because he needed help. 
But this kiddo, is grumpy.  Wanted to be at home.  So did I.  Just didn't get it.  Which for this kiddo when this stage of self centeredness has started it is really hard to refocus. 
I ask my children if they knew the story of the Good Samaritan. 
I was shocked when my younger two said no.
NO???
I gasped and did a double take. 
My brain went into over drive. How could that be? 
We read Bible stories.  We talk Bible stuff.  We memorize verses. We go to church.  They watch Bible videos.  How? But....?
I stop the bumbling around in my brain.
I share the story as I drive. 
I ask who was a good neighbor?  why? 
Now they all have heard the story and know.
But now, it is quiet and I can think.
It is just like I share at times with friends and my oldest. Just like I had shared that morning with a friend.  God doesn't always take us down the same path as the person next to us.  He has different lessons for us at different times. We don't learn his ways over night.  Sometimes there are even some slips and falls along the way, just like when a baby learns to walk and become a toddler.  Yes, my oldest were schooled in the story of the Good Samaritan.  Now so were my youngers.  My youngers on the other hand have been learning lessons that my olders are learning just now. 
Different people, different paths, different learning curves and lessons plans created by the Master Educator.  Patience and understanding and compassion for one another, for we don't know where the Lord has taken them, is taking them or will be taking them. 

Bestest Ever Compliment I Ever Received

The scene:  Reading to Dad's Bud an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland.
The conflict:  Dad's Bud is fed up done with school and really doesn't want to listen.
He is trying, but finding it ever so difficult and is fidgeting up a storm trying to stay and obey.
We get to the conversation with the Caterpillar and I am doing the voices.
Dad's Bud smiles and interrupts.
"You sound just like Grandmama when she reads her stories!"
HUGE smile and a giggly thank you from this Momma.
A long lasting wish fulfilled.  My children would enjoy hearing me tell stories as much as we enjoy listening to Grandmama's and Papa's stories. 

When dad is home

When dad has the day off...he mows the yard.

He then interrupts school lessons to call the children outside.

Why!!!???!!!

Because he is an Awesome Homeschool Dad

and he wants to share his discovery.

The children were duly impressed.

 

 

Jane, she is a favorite part of my week!

I first met Jane 8 or 9 years ago. 

Fun Girl wanted to learn to play violin.

A friend recommended Jane. 

She even took me to her kiddos lessons. 

Still wasn't too sure about entering the world of music lessons.

I knew in theory, I knew music instruction was invaluable.

But private lessons and the cost of the instrument had me concerned....
well invaluable, means there is a value.

A big commitment.

As always, God has provided. 

Since that day, all but our youngest have gone to Jane for lessons.

Fun Girl started with violin.

Then she added piano as Hockey Player started to play.

Fun Girl has moved on in her interests but to Jane's we go every week.

Hockey Player

Little Princess

Dad's Bud

and maybe one day The Man

Jane's home is one the children adore.

Her yard is something out of the Secret Garden.

Lots to discover,

a tire swing for waiting siblings

daffodils in the spring

cats and kittens lounging in the sun....

in her home...

piles and piles of music...

and she knows where each piece is located.

I believe every she has kept every gift every student has given her.

A testament of the love and respect given to her by all who enter her life.

 

 

Before every recital piece is played, the performer

must stand, tell his name, age, grade and something about him/herself

and the piece to be played.

Meanwhile, siblings are encouraged to get comfortable

and pet the audience.

 

 

garlands of glitter and pizzazz

sparkles and memories

 

 

momentos of a life time of teaching

 

 

When I look around, I can't help but smile.

Pumpkin Patch #3...Last but not least

Favorite glimpses of Autumn.

Taking time to Pause and Enjoy

the Now and Here

It was a beautiful day!

 

 

Another snack break :)

Pumpkin Patch #2...............

After picking our pumpkins

it is time to play!

first stop ~ the air pillow

 

 

When the kids are done playing, the moms will play!

 

 

Trying to not fall on the kiddos!

 

Hubby had fun taking pictures. 

I was trying to jump in the above picture.

But I had the giggles so bad!

I spent most my time on my bottom

Or my knees, trying to get back up!

 

Then it was time for more kiddo time!

 

Fun Girl

 

My dear friend,

 I wish I didn't have to worry about allergies..

I would have jumped on like her!

Doesn't that look like fuN!

 

Little Princess

 

Dad's Bud

 

The Man

 

 

Going down the slide~

Giggling again!

 

Ms. Molly had the perfect idea.

Wish I had thought of it.

She let her son and Dad's Bud

pedal her around the pond!

 

Hockey Player and Joseph

 

Daddy O, Fun Girl and The Man

 

Little Princess with her Daddy