Busy Days

Howdy everyone--

Well, actually, howdy to myself since I am the only one reading my blog. I am a flake in the blog world and I accept that. I cannot get it "all done" AND blog as well. So, really, I am treating this like my own personal journal that MIGHT be read by someone else, on off chance they click over from a comment I posted to see if I'm a real person.... :-)

I don't know why I thought I would have more time once I quit my job last year. I mean, technically, I SHOULD have more time. I don't have a job! But for some reason, I quickly filled my time with "other" activities. We are so busy that when we got sick last week, I was secretly relieved because then we could stay home every day. Whoever said homeschoolers are sheltered and unsocialized? Geesh. Not my kids! We're struggling to be home enough to even get school work done!

So what are we busy doing? Stuff here, there and everywhere. I've included some photos to help me remember all that we have been doing. First, my 8 yr old has become a BMX bike rider! Not a motorcross bike--no way would I give Mr. Adrenaline a bike with a motor! He has to pedal his bike to get over the hills on the track. He loves it! This is the perfect sport for him. 1) He is independent--he controls his own 'destiny' per se. He struggles to get along with others (wants to be the leader) and in this scenario, he's in charge. Team sports have always been a challenge 2) Adrenaline! Loves, loves, loves the speed, the hills, the jumps. 3) Burns a TON of energy--this boy can ride for 2 hrs and then goes right to bed when we get home. Worth it's weight in gold.

The only problem with BMXing is the track is 45 mins from our house. So, right now, he can only ride on Mon. nights. I drive him out with a friend, park my fanny at the side of the track, wrap myself in blankets and shiver for a few hours.

Our oldest son also just recently made his first club soccer team. Hooray! I am very excited for him--he's my shy, mellow one that now has a passion to play the game. The time and money commitment are huge but my husband is super involved in the process so it took some of the pressure off. Right now, we're all excited about the team, the practices and the skills he's learning. He loves it! We just have practices 1-2 times/week right now and thankfully, the younger two don't mind tagging along. We usually visit a park while brother plays so it works out for everyone.

I think my main dilemma is while I do enjoy the afternoon activities and I am thankful my children are participating, it takes ME away from the home, which is problematic. I need to be in my home in order to clean it, organize it, maintain it...we are there all morning but we are schooling. In the early afternoon, we are eating lunch, picking up sister from school and prepping to leave for our activities. We come home around 6 pm and it's dinner, bath, bedtime. I am not able to clean, etc. until later in the evening and by then, I'm tired. So, our days feel busy and long and the house reflects that.

OK, new topic! Bored of that one. Here are some photos from the month...

Our youngest after we took her braids out and fluffed her hair. She says she's "poofed" like the cat in her book...

Oldest son making molecules with gumdrops.

OK, gotta run...

Laurie

Our First Day of School 2008

Here we are--aren't we sweet?

No, wait a minute...here's what we REALLY look like...

Ok, what's up with my kids?? I actually have to take the "silly one" first in order to get the "nice one." Otherwise, it's just a lesson in frustration for all of us. Although the silly ones are fun to look at...

Today was our first official day of school--Hooray! The boys are in 3rd and 5th grade this year -- yikes! We are entering our 7th year of homeschooling (PreK-5th) and ready to go. I like to ease into the year with a few fun activities. We will add our more structured activities over the next week or two.

We spent the day making cookies, reading the Ballad of Mulan (and other Chinese tales) and learning a bit about China. We have all had a great time watching the Olympics, inspiring us to learn more about China. Tomorrow, we plan on watching Disney's Mulan (to compare with the story), practice a few Chinese characters, work on our math and reading programs and take a trip to the dentist (sorry kids, it's was the only day I could get an appt). We always try to take a field trip the first week (one of the many benefits of homeschooling) but with the budget being a bit tight, we're going to have to do a more local trip to PetSmart. N. is dying for a hamster--he just loves animals and does so well with our cat. He is currently working on his "30 day chart" to earn a hamster by cleaning his room with out complaining every day AND cleaning out the cat box. Tomorrow, we are going to check out the hamsters and possibly hold a few of them. If I were especially diligent, I would add a writing assignment to the field trip (Why hamsters make great pets?) but we'll see :-)

More later....

Out of the box...

We made our semi-annual trek to Legoland in CA this week. The kids were in absolute heaven. My boys just dread the usual textbook-workbook-must-write-in-my-journal school day. They absolutely shine on field trip days! Here are they are in a Robosports class, goofing around and learning at the same time. In a perfect world, we would be unschoolers, traveling the land, caring for our animals (although we have none), harvesting the "back 40," and learning as we go. But alas, my children have parents that are both Educators. We Educators have a hard time getting out of the "box." The "box" gives us tangible growth (gotta love those worksheets and textbooks!) and good test scores but the "box" gets stuffy and tight and is just plain boring most days. We don't always fit well in the box--we need to stretch and move a bit, grow bigger than the box will allow. But there is value in learning the skills required of being in the box, skills we believe are important to know in this world....what a strange paradox I am stuck in! (What a rambling mess this blog has turned into!)

I must admit that I am comfortable in the box--it shows me where to go, what to do, how to assess. My boys are having trouble writing--the "box" helps me teach this difficult subject. But how I love the freedom of leaving the box for short periods of time--we love lazy reading days, cooking together, visiting new places, exploring our interests on the Internet....ahh, freedom! But then I find myself looking back at the box, missing the structure, wondering if we still fit, husband begins asking how we are doing in the box....so back in the box we go!

One of my goals for this next year is to live in the box of state standards while making each moment there as exciting and enjoyable as possible. My goal also is to really, truly take advantage of those out of the box days when they come. To enjoy the structure of the box and the freedom of being out in the world. I'll let you know how I do!

Welcome to my blog!

Who would have ever thought I would become a "blogger"? I would not say my writing skills dazzle and I certainly lead a pretty normal life but I would love a place to write and chat about the awesome things God is doing in my life (and to be honest in my struggles as a wife, mother, homeschooling mom and servant of Christ). I can't promise I will be witty or clever but hey, I can be honest and real.

So, where to begin? Hmm....lots of empty space to fill on these blogs! Let's start with the obvious I guess. My name is Laurie and I live on the West Coast with my husband of 14 years, K. We have been homeschooling for several years and I work part time for a homeschooling charter school (a discussion topic for another day) My husband works for a local public school. I guess we are not your typical homeschool family since we are tied to public schools professionally but we have gone where God has called us (both career wise and in the schooling of our own children.) A topic to explore another day.....

In my spare time (ha, ha), I love creating digital scrapbooks, reading and sitting on the beach, doing nothing except watching my children play in the waves. I would love to be able to say I like to exercise and stay fit but really, who am I kidding? I would love to be fit but the actual exercise part? Not my favorite. I use to love to exercise and stay fit in college but it took all my concentration for some reason. :-) It seems I am better at this when I am not homeschooling 3 children, cleaning house, cooking dinner, working on the computer, serving at church....

We have 3 children--K. Jr. is 9 yrs old and in 4th grade. He is a Lego loving boy that enjoys homescholing except when he has to actually complete his work (hmmm....) He is calm, sweet and a pretty quiet kid. Although he does have the most amazing and infectious laugh--a great belly laugh that makes you smile when you hear it.

His latest passion is Lego Star Wars--he spends hours building "guys" and places for them to visit in his room. I can hear him through his bedroom door--he often talks through his day with his guys, acting out events in our day. Fun to listen to and very insightful! He loves to eat and is growing tall like K and I (6'3" and 5'9"). He's only 2 inches shy of 5 ft tall and is not quite 9 1/2 yet. Yikes!

Our next son is N. and he is 7. He is my affectionate, passionate, intense and silly seeking son. He has kept me humble and on my knees before the Lord! He is helping me to become more patient, more consistent, more loving....the Lord is using him to transform me. Pretty cool! I just love his passion for Legos, K'Nex, jumping bikes over ramps, catching frogs...really anything that feeds his need for adrenaline. He can be a challenge but also complete joy also.

Our littlest one is E. She is our chatty, smiley girl from Russia. She joined our family when she was 11 mos old and it has been such a blast to have a girl in the family. Boy, I had heard that little girls could talk but who knew? My ears actually hurt at the end of the day! She is a joy though--she has such a happy and joy filled heart. It's hard not to laugh when you're with E. She loves attention and is a complete extrovert. She is my child that greets everyone in a grocery store and they strike up a conversation as I hide my head and curse myself for rushing out of the house in my sweats and no makeup (again!).

Well, that's a not a bad start for my first post. I think I will sign off now and work more tomorrow.

Blessings,

Laurie