Homeschooling

A couple nights ago I got the school room all ready for its first students this year.  We're having to do things a little differently.  The older children are pretty much self led at this point.  They are using an online school this year that does all the grading and record keeping for me.  Sydney is finishing up some odds and ends and will be graduating sooner than later.  This leaves me with 9th, 8th, and 6th for the Bigs.  They are using Monarch for history,  science, grammar, bible, and Spanish and health for Hannah.  We are using writeathome.com for writing and Teaching Textbooks for math. 

Since the Bigs are all able to do their own thing I'm  left with what to do with the Littles?  I mean, some of them have to learn, right?  ;)  I am currently teaching 2nd grade to both Luke and Joslyn, and kindergarten to James Michael.  This leaves me with a pre-schooler, a toddler, and a newborn to do who knows what with during school hours.

I knew I would need a plan.  I've never had so many Littles while trying to school before.  I needed some way to contain the potential disaster of not having my eyes on them EVERY.SINGLE.SECOND.  But how?  We've always just done school at the dining room table.  That way, I can cook and clean and be centrally located but, let's face it.....With a kindergartner and a struggling learner there's no way I'm going to have the chance to multi-task this year.  Add in a nursing baby.............Yeah, you're starting to get it, aren't you?

So, here's what I've done..........

I chose to have a school room right next to the Little Boys' room.  There's a TV in there (with educational videos, don't have a heart attack) and the toys are limited so the mess is rather containable.  I installed a baby gate from the wall to the banister to keep the Littles in this corner of the house.  Now, while I'm teaching, I know Liberty and Israel are limited to the safety of space I have chosen.  Truth be told, they both sat with us at the table in the school room today anyway.  But, ya know, if they ever WANT to escape....they can't!  BWAHAHAHA!

I used a piece of quilt batting to make a flannel graph board outside the bedroom door.  Right now, all I have are these dinosaurs but I plan to steal permanently borrow some bible characters from some of our outdated Sunday school materials at church.  Don't tell the head of the program....oh, wait.....that's me.

Right outside the boys' and school room door there's a computer station with an old desk top so they can play educational games if they finish their work and have "free time".

Here's looking in the door at our shelves and table.  See how nicely organized they are?  Yeah, give it a week! LOL  On the other side of those shelves is my quilting area.  I won't take a picture of that.  It's scary!

Looking to the left of the door you can see Luke and Joslyn's shelves of materials.  Games with lots of pieces and puzzles are kept up high so a certain little nephew of mine who just ADORES dumping everything out at his Auntie's can not reach them!  See those blue boxes?  Took me three hours to sort the cards after his last visit! LOL  (I wasn't laughing then!  I was watching Law and Order Criminal Intent. I wonder if there's a correlation?)

To the right of the door are James Michael's school books, children's picture and board books, and mom approved art supplies.  Read between the lines:  No glitter or beads!

The view, just to make you drool.

The shelves that separate the school room from the quilting room.  The less mom approved art supplies are kept here along with bigger kid games, science kits, chapter books, and easy readers.  Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz where Toto pulls back the curtain and the old man is back there pretending to be the wizard and saying "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"?  Yes?  Good.  Pay no attention to the mess in the left of the picture! ;)

We started off our first day of school with cupcakes.  I had to get them in the room somehow, right?  Liberty sleeps 'till 11-12 or so, so she missed out.

I read to them and we discussed fantasy and realism and how authors often combine the two to make a story more interesting.  We also predicted story outcomes by using cues from the illustrations. Even Israel was happy to "help" with this part!

James Michael practices the letter "Cc"!

Liberty wakes up and after having toast and a banana comes to join the party!

Luke and Joslyn both write out this week's memory verses to keep in their rooms.  They also wrote alliterations today.  Luke's was:  Mack Mouse makes macaroni.

Joslyn, of course, took school VERY seriously!

And, with that, I'm going to bed!  Hope you all enjoyed a peek into our day!  'Night!

Restoration

Yesterday, Husband and I made an up and back trip to Anchorage to drop Luke off at the airport.  For those of you who don't live in Alaska, it takes 12 hours round-trip.  And, round-trip is what we did!  We left at 2am night before last.  Luke flew out at 9:30am, we did MINIMAL shopping (still paying two mortgages) and headed home.  We got home at 5 pm last night.  Talk about a tired Mommy and Daddy!  Thankfully, the children were quick to go to bed last night and both Husband and I were asleep by 9pm.

When you travel that far you get a lot of time to think!

While  I was waiting at the airport for Luke's flight to take off I was texting with Sydney.  (Who's in Long Beach, WA visiting my family right now)  She was just heading out to see the King Tut exhibit in Seattle.  She also got to go to Pike's Place and otherwise do fun, touristy things.  I'm a bit jealous.  ;) 

While I was texting with her I noticed that I receive an OVERWHELMINGLY larger number of texts from her than from anyone else......and not one of them says. "I hate you!"  LOL  Do you know how much that blesses me?  That my 17 year old is my friend?  That she still calls me "Mommy"?  That when she reads something that she's not sure about she comes to me and asks what I think?  (Most recently regarding some theology).

Statistically though, it SO could have be different for both Sydney and me. 

I am a Teen Mom, or, at least I used to be.  Now I'm a mom of a teen  (or 3)! ;)

I've been walking this road for 17 years now and the farther away I get from that 15 year old pregnant girl the clearer the bigger picture gets.  I can see all the ways God's hand has been there.  All the things He's  restored and all the prayers that have been answered.

This is one of my favorite songs of all time.  I love music that tells a story and....little known fact about me....I love old-school rap.  It's OK, you don't have to like it too...we can still be friends.  Anyway, here's a link to it on youtube.  If you can't stomach the rap part of it I'll post some of the lyrics for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ1DHhobVVg

"Irene"

Hush little baby baby don't you cry
Daddy's gonna sing you a lullaby
Everything's gonna be alright
The Lord's gonna answer your prayer tonight
Hush little baby don't you cry
Daddy's gonna sing you a lullaby
Everything's gonna be alright
The Lord's gonna answer your prayer

Last night you had a dream you was the homecoming queen
Today you're 18, happy birthday Irene
School you had to drop out to raise your little child
Don't seem to be anyone around
You've got to reach up to touch rock bottom
The powers that be keep you downtrodden
Daughter of Zion, I heard your prayer
Just cast your cares and please beware of snakes
They come in all shapes and sizes
Tempt you, put scales on your eyelids
Don't waste your sorrows
They'll give you strength tomorrow
Your Calvary's about to come so
Keep your head up, don't you ever let up
This storm will pass you'll be ready for the next one

Hey little girl with the pressures of the world on your shoulders
Don't say that it's over
I heard your prayers, just cast your cares
And I'll be there so don't you fear

[CHORUS]

Irene I carried you when you was too weak to walk
I took to you when you gave your heart to God
Faithful and true, that's what I'll always be to you
Believe in you, believe in Me and these mountains have to move
You have dreams and aspirations
I knew you before creation
Your foundation's solid
I will give you a palace, restore your soul
You'll be up for any challenge
Many storms are on the way better sharpen your faith
Count the cost, take up your cross
And wear it every day
Rest in Me and I will give you strength
Blessed is she, Irene who seeks my face

[CHORUS]

Father I'm stronger than when I first believed

OK, I had a hard time choosing so I just posted the whole song.  I did have a support system but I also had dreams and aspirations.  I went to school and worked.  Honestly, Sydney didn't get much of my time those first couple years.  I was young.  I was selfish.  I wasn't necessarily a BAD mom.  I just did the things that I thought moms did however misguided those perceptions were.  And you know what?  God still blessed that!  He still blessed that floundering, selfish, scared girl.  I turned my heart toward Him....over time....and He used that to turn my heart toward my home.  My children.  My husband.  He answered my cries.  He knew what I needed when I didn't even know what I needed.

And he knew what Sydney needed.  He has sent her a Daddy that adores her....and she adores him.  They're best friends.  There's not a single drop of his blood running through her veins but they are 100% father and daughter.  She's never had one of those "REAL" dad identity problems.  She has a dad who has filled the hole that should have been in her heart. 

So what's the point in all this?

I'm just amazed to look back and see all the blessings God has given me.  Me.  That naive girl.  He didn't come after me with a stick or condemn me.  He just loved me.  Blessed me gently....over time and watched me bloom under His loving parenthood.  And Sydney too....she had every right to be a "troubled" child.  People even EXPECTED it!  But look at her!  So beautiful on the inside and outside!  THAT is the work of a loving God.  Not a hateful taskmaster!

Random Thoughts and Happenings.....

Libby Jane escaped from her crib for the first time today.....She's 16 1/2 months old.  Is that supposed to happen already?

James Michael and Iz helped me make rhubarb crisp today.  It started when James asked me to go on a walk with him.  His request was immediately followed by adorable, pleading eyes and "Please say YES".  How could I say no?  Especially when he's been especially Dennis the Menace/Tigger-ish lately.  I know all he did was ask me to go for a walk, but what I heard was "Mommy, you've been so sick, I've missed you.  I need your attention."  We held hands as we walked to the top of the driveway and back (We don't live in the city...it's a long driveway)  He wanted to go throw rocks over a valley near our house but I told him I didn't think I could make it that far.  He offered to carry me. 

On the way home we stopped at the garden box and decided to harvest the rhubarb.  He was so excited that I let him do ALL the cutting!  We fed the leaves to the chickens and made our way to the house, stopping to show Daddy our bountiful harvest.  Israel wanted to get in on the action too and was a little put out that I was making him put clothes on and wash his hands before helping.  He's been practicing standing up while peeing and had "mis-calculated" a while before and was hence, running around naked.  He was kind enough to take his clothing to the dirty laundry for me.

Tonight, while James and Iz were going potty before bed I heard a loud sound (like someone dropping a toilet seat) and then I heard James say, "Ow...that really hurt.  Israel, will you pray for me so I can get better?"  And Israel quoted his patented bedtime prayer.  It was so sweet.

I've been sick.  A lot sick.  I never get sick.  I'm the one who takes care of everyone else when THEY'RE sick.  How did this happen?  On Sunday I took a 7 hour nap.  Joslyn has been praying for me at every meal and at bedtime.  The Bigs have been so great to help me out but you can tell by attitudes that Mommy just hasn't been all there.  Tensions are running high.  I'm hoping tomorrow I'll be back at it again.  There's two weeks worth of laundry that needs folding!! 

Oh, and one of my freezers died today so I had to transfer everything to the other freezer.  Good thing we are at the VERY END of the cow we bought or it wouldn't have all fit!

And with that, Friends, I am off to bed.

P.S.  I want to add that today someone asked when I'm due and I got to say, "Next month".  Do you have any idea how awesome that is?  I've been dreaming of this day.  "Next month" sounds so much sooner than "6 weeks", don't you think?

LuLu Belle Cruise part 2

Alright, I promised the rest of the pictures!  So here's some of those Sea Lions.  Kinda funny about these sea lions.  See the really big ones?  The bulls?  Those are the ones that no one would mate with so they got sent to live here with the "teenagers" LOL 

I also promised a picture of some ice bergs.  These are really tiny ones.  It was the end of the cruise and neither Sydney and I were motivated to go take pictures of a glacier after the winter we had!

And one last picture of Don and me.  We have a similar one in our living room that was taken on the same boat about 10 years ago.  I'm really excited to print this one and hang them side by side.

That's about it for the blog.  If you would like to see more pictures you can check them out on my FaceBook page.  I'll be uploading this month's photos to an album tonight.

Cruising Alaska

I live in the small Alaskan town of Valdez.  It's a cozy little thing perched right on the edge of the water.  There's lots of fishing, fish processing, and tourism going on around here in the summer.  This weekend we were invited by our friends to go on a cruise on their tourist boat.  We took it as an opportunity for a "date" with just the Bigs (Bigs refers to Sydney, Hannah, Elijah, and Mattie) and sucked Aunt Chelsea into babysitting for us for the day.  Elijah opted out of the cruise so it was just us, the girls, and our friends that were visiting from out of town.

It was a kinda rainy day so we dressed in layers (You can always take it off if you're too hot but if you get cold and don't have more to put on, well, sucks to be you) and headed for the Lulu Belle.  (Visit their website http://www.lulubelletours.com/ for more great, Alaskan pictures)  As you leave the harbor there are two fish processing plants.  There happened to be a boat docked there unloading fish so I snapped a pic.

 

The next thing we saw was a group of otters.  There's a technical name for them and Fred, the boats captain, told us SEVERAL times what it was but clearly I wasn't listening and I'm not concerned enough to google it! LOL  Aren't they cute little things?  We actually have otters in abundance here.  The kids and I regularly head down to the docks to look for our favorite otter, "Spot", named that because we always "Spot" him.  Truth be told it's most likely a different otter every time but they all sorta look the same so.........



Next up was a hump back whale.  We had so much fun watching this guy.  At one point he was about 40' or so off the front of the boat.  He was clearly feeding and kept getting closer and closer to the land which dropped off sharply under water making for a perfect back scratching area!



I think it may have been quite possible to sit there and watch him (her?) all day.  His movements were so fluid and perfect.  It amazes me how perfectly God designed these massive creatures to be able to move so deftly through the water.  And to live on something as tiny as krill and shrimp to boot!  I mean, seriously?  Can you imagine how much that guy has to eat just to get a belly full?  Anyhow, on with the show.......

I think the next thing we saw were the Dall Sheep.  We saw a Mama and her very tiny baby.  Can I just tell you that to THIS Mama it looked like that mountain was straight up and down?!  I know those things are very sure footed but I was seriously having a heart attack!  Would somebody please get that baby off there?!!

We also saw a group (pod?) of Dall Porpoise.  Those guys are so fun!  If you stick right around 35mph they will come right to the boat and swim and jump ahead of you.  They are smaller than a dolphin with the coloring of a killer whale.

One of my personal favorites (for sight, certainly NOT smell!) are the Stellar Sea Lions.  I could watch them all day!  They don't really DO much other than sit around on the rocks, occasionally fighting with each other, making burping noises......Wait.....that sounds a lot like my dinner table!  JUST KIDDING!!! LOL  My kids don't burp.  They tell knock-knock or "why did the chicken...." jokes.  Speaking of which....Why did the duck cross the road?  Because the chicken was on vacation!  I know, knee slapper, right?  Never a dull moment around here! LOL 

Oh, no!  It won't let me upload any more images!!!  I guess this will be a 2 part post?  OK, up later are sea lions, ice bergs, and a picture of Don and I.....But I think it'll wait until tomorrow!