It is 8:19 am and my children are ALL still sleeping. This is vacation!!! Can you hear the peace and quiet at my house??
We are all ready for a vacation! After working hard at school for four months, we celebrated Christmas. This was no small task because we had four parties in four days. It was almost like a marathon!! Yesterday was our first day with nothing to do, and I was exhausted and just wanted to do nothing! To add to it, my feet hurt. :( I wore my boots for two of our parties and kept them on all day; they aren't exactly gentle to my feet. Then on Christmas Eve, we had a some friends over for dinner, so I spent all day on my feet getting that ready. About 5:00 that night, my feet really started hurting! Luckily by about noon yesterday, they were feeling better, but that was so weird!
As for the next two weeks, we are going to try to get some stuff done around here.
1. Yesterday afternoon the boys and I cleaned their bedroom. Things had gotten out of control in there. :( We are also looking to buying Christian a loft bed and giving his bed to Micah. If and when this happens, I don't want a big mess in there!
2. I also want to get my sitting room cleaned up. This is out of control also!! Megan does her homework in there at my desk, but Matt wants her to move to her room. This means either moving my desk into her room or buying her a new one. She obviously wants a new one!! I also have old curriculum all over the floor that I need to sell or put away for the next kid.
Courtney has also brought all her clothes that don't fit and all her stuffed animals that she doesn't have room for anymore into my sitting room and just dumped them all in a pile. :(
I wanted to do this today, and I may be able to get started, but I signed Courtney up for a basketball clinic today from 12-3, so I need to play taxi driver. Megan might have clarinet lessons this afternoon, and tonight, and Matt's aunt is taking Megan out for her birthday. Whew!
3. I also need to get all the Christmas presents put away and the tree taken down. I kind of want to leave my Christmas decorations up though since they are so pretty!
4. Did I mention I am starting two new curriculums after break? I need to read up on those. I also need to go through all our homeschooling books and get everything ready for January! Megan is picking up concert band at the local public school (along with her other two classes), so our whole schedule is going to be new! Anybody ready to get up an hour earlier??
I hear children moving around. Time to go!
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Living it out!
Today I picked Megan up from school and like usual, she started telling me what happened in her classes. Finals are starting tomorrow at her school, so they have been reviewing all week.
Today in her biology class, they played a game as part of a review session. They play games quite a bit as a review, and Megan usually is one of the top placers. She currently has 3 free ice cream cone coupons on our fridge! Today was no different. She said that as they were playing, she could see on their computers who was leading. At one point, it was Megan.
At that moment, she decided that she didn't want to win, but would RATHER let somebody else win, so she entered a wrong answer and dropped herself to 11th place. She said the three people who did win (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) were kids who don't usually get a prize in that class.
On the other hand, she said she also did this because she doesn't want to be known as the girl who always wins the games in biology class.
I was kind of mad at first, "What do you mean you were letting somebody else win??" But then I thought about it again. "Wow! You are thinking of others! Way to live out your faith!" I was proud of her for giving somebody else a chance to win and not just thinking about herself!!! She said she knew the right answer, but purposefully put in the wrong one just to drop herself down in the standings!
Now hopefully she will do a great job on her final tomorrow!!!
Today in her biology class, they played a game as part of a review session. They play games quite a bit as a review, and Megan usually is one of the top placers. She currently has 3 free ice cream cone coupons on our fridge! Today was no different. She said that as they were playing, she could see on their computers who was leading. At one point, it was Megan.
At that moment, she decided that she didn't want to win, but would RATHER let somebody else win, so she entered a wrong answer and dropped herself to 11th place. She said the three people who did win (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) were kids who don't usually get a prize in that class.
On the other hand, she said she also did this because she doesn't want to be known as the girl who always wins the games in biology class.
I was kind of mad at first, "What do you mean you were letting somebody else win??" But then I thought about it again. "Wow! You are thinking of others! Way to live out your faith!" I was proud of her for giving somebody else a chance to win and not just thinking about herself!!! She said she knew the right answer, but purposefully put in the wrong one just to drop herself down in the standings!
Now hopefully she will do a great job on her final tomorrow!!!
Monday, December 17, 2018
It's the most stressful time of the year. :)
I haven't blogged in a very long time.
I am just not into it lately. By the time I get done grading homework in the evening, I just want to go to bed, and I don't want to do anything more!
But this week, we are taking a break. This mama needs it.
Most public schools are out on Friday, including the one that Megan attends. If you are a teacher, when do you have time to get things ready for Christmas, which is the following Tuesday??
I really think school districts should give the week before Christmas off, not the week after. I don't need time AFTER Christmas to get things done. I need the week before!!
We are going to do math everyday this week and if that is all we get to, then that is fine. I am not going to push it.
My poor body cannot handle the stress this time of year. I have already broken out in a rash, had several allergic reactions (one where my throat was tingling), anxiety, rapid heartrate, was short tempered, and the list goes on. My adrenals are working extra hard this holiday season. I can tell when they are burned out for the day because I lose ALL my energy and I just want to sit and do NOTHING!
People tell me to "control my stress." How exactly do I "control" my stress? My chiropractor told me to exercise and to journal, which helps, but when I am done, the stress comes back. I just think about what I all need to get done and my heartrate jumps.
The only way I have learned to control it is by eliminating it. The main thing I eliminated is school.
Today was the first day that I eliminated 95% of our homeschool subjects, and I was not as stressed as I was last week!! I figured I had to do something before my body went into a full-blown revolt!
And since I have very little homework to grade, I can return to my blog. :)
Merry Christmas!!!
I am just not into it lately. By the time I get done grading homework in the evening, I just want to go to bed, and I don't want to do anything more!
But this week, we are taking a break. This mama needs it.
Most public schools are out on Friday, including the one that Megan attends. If you are a teacher, when do you have time to get things ready for Christmas, which is the following Tuesday??
I really think school districts should give the week before Christmas off, not the week after. I don't need time AFTER Christmas to get things done. I need the week before!!
We are going to do math everyday this week and if that is all we get to, then that is fine. I am not going to push it.
My poor body cannot handle the stress this time of year. I have already broken out in a rash, had several allergic reactions (one where my throat was tingling), anxiety, rapid heartrate, was short tempered, and the list goes on. My adrenals are working extra hard this holiday season. I can tell when they are burned out for the day because I lose ALL my energy and I just want to sit and do NOTHING!
People tell me to "control my stress." How exactly do I "control" my stress? My chiropractor told me to exercise and to journal, which helps, but when I am done, the stress comes back. I just think about what I all need to get done and my heartrate jumps.
The only way I have learned to control it is by eliminating it. The main thing I eliminated is school.
Today was the first day that I eliminated 95% of our homeschool subjects, and I was not as stressed as I was last week!! I figured I had to do something before my body went into a full-blown revolt!
And since I have very little homework to grade, I can return to my blog. :)
Merry Christmas!!!
Thursday, September 13, 2018
It has been a long time!
I am not very good at blogging anymore! It has been almost two months since I have been on here! Googl.e is going to delete my blog if I don't keep something up here!
I think one reason I don't blog anymore is because Courtney films quite a bit around here and makes vlogs. She is great at capturing moments and then putting them into a video. Check her channel out on YouTube- "Courtney's Life". :)
At the moment, Matt and Christian are on their way out to Grand Island for Husker Harvest Days. They are travelling with grandpa. This has become a yearly tradition, and Christian looks forward to it every year. We were even in a consignment store yesterday and he found a pair of bib overalls. They fit great, so I bought them for today. He was pretty excited to show grandpa!
In the meantime, I will be at home with Megan, Courtney, and Micah. It will be quiet here today. Micah will have nobody to fight with, and Courtney will have nobody to pick on. Megan usually gets involved too somewhat during the day, but not as much as the other two. Micah will have all the toys to himself! Christian is really a good kid, but he just needs to listen. :) It is something we work on daily!
Megan and Courtney will go to school like always. We started school about a month ago with these two. We decided to dual enroll Megan this year. She is taking Latin and Biology up at the local high school, so she goes up there in the afternoon. This works out great! We just need to get all her work done by noon. We have been carpooling with another family in the neighborhood, so that has been super helpful.
Courtney and Christian (and Micah) are here in the afternoon, and we get quite a lot done. These two are still at home full-time. Matt says that when they are smarter than me, then they can go to school. There was no way I was teaching Megan Latin!! She is taking biology because science is hard to do at home. It was challenging to find all the science supplies and get everything done. It took Megan two years to get through one book. I told her now that she is in high school, she needs to get everything done in one year. There is also a rule where we live that if you take two classes at a school, then you can participate in extra-curricular activities. I told her to get involved!! She really gets the best of both worlds (public and homeschooling).
Since I only have the girls home today, I am letting them sleep in! I will get through things a lot faster without having to stop to break up fights all day!
I should go wake them up though- it is 8 am! Usually Micah is awake by 7:15 am, and he isn't up yet either.
Off to another fun-filled day!
I think one reason I don't blog anymore is because Courtney films quite a bit around here and makes vlogs. She is great at capturing moments and then putting them into a video. Check her channel out on YouTube- "Courtney's Life". :)
At the moment, Matt and Christian are on their way out to Grand Island for Husker Harvest Days. They are travelling with grandpa. This has become a yearly tradition, and Christian looks forward to it every year. We were even in a consignment store yesterday and he found a pair of bib overalls. They fit great, so I bought them for today. He was pretty excited to show grandpa!
In the meantime, I will be at home with Megan, Courtney, and Micah. It will be quiet here today. Micah will have nobody to fight with, and Courtney will have nobody to pick on. Megan usually gets involved too somewhat during the day, but not as much as the other two. Micah will have all the toys to himself! Christian is really a good kid, but he just needs to listen. :) It is something we work on daily!
Megan and Courtney will go to school like always. We started school about a month ago with these two. We decided to dual enroll Megan this year. She is taking Latin and Biology up at the local high school, so she goes up there in the afternoon. This works out great! We just need to get all her work done by noon. We have been carpooling with another family in the neighborhood, so that has been super helpful.
Courtney and Christian (and Micah) are here in the afternoon, and we get quite a lot done. These two are still at home full-time. Matt says that when they are smarter than me, then they can go to school. There was no way I was teaching Megan Latin!! She is taking biology because science is hard to do at home. It was challenging to find all the science supplies and get everything done. It took Megan two years to get through one book. I told her now that she is in high school, she needs to get everything done in one year. There is also a rule where we live that if you take two classes at a school, then you can participate in extra-curricular activities. I told her to get involved!! She really gets the best of both worlds (public and homeschooling).
Since I only have the girls home today, I am letting them sleep in! I will get through things a lot faster without having to stop to break up fights all day!
I should go wake them up though- it is 8 am! Usually Micah is awake by 7:15 am, and he isn't up yet either.
Off to another fun-filled day!
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Productive Weekend!
We finally had a weekend where we had NOTHING planned!
We thought we would take advantage of it and get things done around the house, and boy did we get things done!!
We had two main things to get done- trim the trees in the backyard and clean the basement!
Matt had gotten a trailer from his dad earlier in the week, so he was outside about 9 am with his saw and was trimming branches. Our trees had taken over our backyard! Some of them were hanging down to the ground, some were hanging over the slide, some were in the way of the swings, and the biggest problem was that the grass underneath the trees was dying because it couldn't get any sun! Matt trimmed ALL the trees so he could stand underneath them again and not get hit by branches!
By the time he was done, it looked like a huge wind storm had come through because we had huge tree branches all over our yard!
Megan and I helped Matt haul them to the front of the house where he cut the branches up even further and put them in the trailer. He ended up making two trips out to the local dump (costing $17 each time!) to dump the branches.
Our back yard looks so much better!!!!
Our other goal this weekend was to clean the basement. Courtney and her slime habit had taken over down there, and it was a disaster!! Our basement is not fully finished either, and Matt said he cannot work on it anymore until it gets cleaned up. About 2 pm, Matt, Courtney, and I headed downstairs to work. It was amazing how much slime we found everywhere. It was stuck to the cement floor in many places, stuck on her table, in the kitchen area, and just in places it shouldn't be!!
We had two HUGE sacks of garbage and everything (various craft supplies, tools, etc.) back in its place by about 5 pm. Matt had even taken the initiative and put up some woodwork! I was thrilled!! He only needs to finish the woodwork and then we can put down some flooring. It has been stuck like this for at least the last five years! I would love to make it into a usable space, especially this winter when I will have two boys bouncing off the walls!
We just need another weekend down there, and we could probably finish the cleaning. I am not sure what Matt wants to put down for flooring. I just want it done, so we can use it...and maybe turn it into a school room??
We thought we would take advantage of it and get things done around the house, and boy did we get things done!!
We had two main things to get done- trim the trees in the backyard and clean the basement!
Matt had gotten a trailer from his dad earlier in the week, so he was outside about 9 am with his saw and was trimming branches. Our trees had taken over our backyard! Some of them were hanging down to the ground, some were hanging over the slide, some were in the way of the swings, and the biggest problem was that the grass underneath the trees was dying because it couldn't get any sun! Matt trimmed ALL the trees so he could stand underneath them again and not get hit by branches!
By the time he was done, it looked like a huge wind storm had come through because we had huge tree branches all over our yard!
Megan and I helped Matt haul them to the front of the house where he cut the branches up even further and put them in the trailer. He ended up making two trips out to the local dump (costing $17 each time!) to dump the branches.
Our back yard looks so much better!!!!
Our other goal this weekend was to clean the basement. Courtney and her slime habit had taken over down there, and it was a disaster!! Our basement is not fully finished either, and Matt said he cannot work on it anymore until it gets cleaned up. About 2 pm, Matt, Courtney, and I headed downstairs to work. It was amazing how much slime we found everywhere. It was stuck to the cement floor in many places, stuck on her table, in the kitchen area, and just in places it shouldn't be!!
We had two HUGE sacks of garbage and everything (various craft supplies, tools, etc.) back in its place by about 5 pm. Matt had even taken the initiative and put up some woodwork! I was thrilled!! He only needs to finish the woodwork and then we can put down some flooring. It has been stuck like this for at least the last five years! I would love to make it into a usable space, especially this winter when I will have two boys bouncing off the walls!
We just need another weekend down there, and we could probably finish the cleaning. I am not sure what Matt wants to put down for flooring. I just want it done, so we can use it...and maybe turn it into a school room??
Friday, July 27, 2018
We are almost done and new beginnings!
My poor kids won't get much of a break from school.
We have been working all summer on math! Megan and Courtney each have about 10 lessons left and Christian has about 40! How did I get so far behind with him?? We have been doing two lessons a day lately just to finish. He has been a pretty good sport about it!
Anyway, one of my homeschooling rules is that I like to be done with our "grade level" curriculum before we start the new year in the fall. I think we will make it! This is usually math and English. I feel I can just roll over the other subjects, and it doesn't matter!
Another reason I need to get our work done is that I need to get Megan ready for high school this year! I told her we need to start all her subjects new this fall, and she needs to finish them or get close to the end this coming year. We cannot keep going with them in the fall. We need to start counting credits this year! I can hardly believe she is in high school!
Since it is almost August and school goes back in two weeks, I have been working here at home to finalize our curriculum for the coming school year. I am actually changing a few things and starting a few new curriculums. I hope it won't be too much of a change!
I am also one to pick and chose my books from a variety of curriculum companies. Many people pick one company and do all their subjects; I have never found that to work for me! I usually like one subjects and not the others. For example, I have LOVED Rod and Staff math and English, but I didn't care for the other subjects. I am not sure if I would be labeled an "eclectic" homeschooler because I pick and chose!
Here is what I have lined up for Megan:
Bob Jones Fundamentals of Literature
Writing with Skill Book 1
(NO GRAMMAR OR VOCABULARY THIS YEAR!!!)
Mystery of History Book 2 along with the historical fiction literature from Sonight Core G
Bob Jones Algebra 1
Apologia Physical Science (which she did 1 chapter in last spring)
We are also looking at letting her taking Latin up at the local high school this year. This would be for her foreign langauge credit.
I am also going to give her a half credit for PE/ Health. I went to a high school seminar last spring,and they said colleges like to see this on the transcript. It shows that the students aren't lazy. :)
She also has been teaching herself piano, so I am going to throw a half credit of piano on her transcript too.
Along with her studies, she will be participating in Homeschool Teen Serve and serving at the Homeschool Learning Center. These will count towards volunteer hours, which I am going to require of her. :)
She also will attend youth group at church.
This should keep her plenty busy!
Actually she is kind of worried that she will be too busy! I said you are in high school now- you are going to have to step it up and just maybe do homework in the evening!
We have been working all summer on math! Megan and Courtney each have about 10 lessons left and Christian has about 40! How did I get so far behind with him?? We have been doing two lessons a day lately just to finish. He has been a pretty good sport about it!
Anyway, one of my homeschooling rules is that I like to be done with our "grade level" curriculum before we start the new year in the fall. I think we will make it! This is usually math and English. I feel I can just roll over the other subjects, and it doesn't matter!
Another reason I need to get our work done is that I need to get Megan ready for high school this year! I told her we need to start all her subjects new this fall, and she needs to finish them or get close to the end this coming year. We cannot keep going with them in the fall. We need to start counting credits this year! I can hardly believe she is in high school!
Since it is almost August and school goes back in two weeks, I have been working here at home to finalize our curriculum for the coming school year. I am actually changing a few things and starting a few new curriculums. I hope it won't be too much of a change!
I am also one to pick and chose my books from a variety of curriculum companies. Many people pick one company and do all their subjects; I have never found that to work for me! I usually like one subjects and not the others. For example, I have LOVED Rod and Staff math and English, but I didn't care for the other subjects. I am not sure if I would be labeled an "eclectic" homeschooler because I pick and chose!
Here is what I have lined up for Megan:
Bob Jones Fundamentals of Literature
Writing with Skill Book 1
(NO GRAMMAR OR VOCABULARY THIS YEAR!!!)
Mystery of History Book 2 along with the historical fiction literature from Sonight Core G
Bob Jones Algebra 1
Apologia Physical Science (which she did 1 chapter in last spring)
We are also looking at letting her taking Latin up at the local high school this year. This would be for her foreign langauge credit.
I am also going to give her a half credit for PE/ Health. I went to a high school seminar last spring,and they said colleges like to see this on the transcript. It shows that the students aren't lazy. :)
She also has been teaching herself piano, so I am going to throw a half credit of piano on her transcript too.
Along with her studies, she will be participating in Homeschool Teen Serve and serving at the Homeschool Learning Center. These will count towards volunteer hours, which I am going to require of her. :)
She also will attend youth group at church.
This should keep her plenty busy!
Actually she is kind of worried that she will be too busy! I said you are in high school now- you are going to have to step it up and just maybe do homework in the evening!
Saturday, July 21, 2018
100%!
Micah has been wearing underwear 100% of the time lately. He wears them during the night and day and EVEN when we go out!
Honestly, I ran out of pullups and didn't want to buy anymore. Plus he always did great when we were out and about and never peed in them anyway!
Being out and about was almost easier than being at home. Since he is always with me, I can always tell when he has to go potty, and I can take him right away. At home, I just let him do his own thing and don't watch him very closely. This is when he has accidents.
At home the last few days, I just take him every few hours, and we haven't had any accidents!
On Thursday, we were at the airport and as we were getting into the car, he started dancing. I asked him if he needed to go potty and he said yes. I was kind of stuck thought because I didn't want to haul him plus the other three back into the airport! I buckled him into his carseat and he held it all the way home!! Yay!!
This may have taken almost a month, but I think we are finally getting it!!!
Honestly, I ran out of pullups and didn't want to buy anymore. Plus he always did great when we were out and about and never peed in them anyway!
Being out and about was almost easier than being at home. Since he is always with me, I can always tell when he has to go potty, and I can take him right away. At home, I just let him do his own thing and don't watch him very closely. This is when he has accidents.
At home the last few days, I just take him every few hours, and we haven't had any accidents!
On Thursday, we were at the airport and as we were getting into the car, he started dancing. I asked him if he needed to go potty and he said yes. I was kind of stuck thought because I didn't want to haul him plus the other three back into the airport! I buckled him into his carseat and he held it all the way home!! Yay!!
This may have taken almost a month, but I think we are finally getting it!!!
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