Were I've Been

Twitter is just so easy. 140 characters. No long, strung together sentances that would require actual time and thought. So easy that I've been finding myself doing that instead of blogging.

But a quick synopsis will bring you all up to speed of what's been going on in our household lately.

It's not tan lines on my face from my sunglasses, it's my super hero mask

Laundry and organizing books today...2 things that are never done. One's the pits, the other's fun.

Funny things I find myself saying #1: Whose underwear is on the table?

http://twitpic.com/dqbq1 - Isaac's first lost tooth!

My calendar is filling up fast. Why does everyone think my summer should be over?

Finally going to finish school planning today...Or maybe the kids will just have a really short year.

Football, Oh how I've missed you.

I didn't finish planning the year, but I'm a whole lot closer than I was this morning.

Just ate some grapes off our grape vine.

Aaah Monday. Back to routine. I'm usually more productive on Monday than any other day of the week. Hope today's not the exception.

I just resorted to rewarding whoever finds our lost copy of Amelia Bedelia, our huge USA map and our "just as big" map of the world.

"Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed."- Josef Stalin.. Who's teaching your kids?

dons her helmet, inserts her mouthguard and reluctantly limps from the sidelines to face the day without a pat on the behind.

I'm enjoying the oodles tomatoes I harvested from my Mom and Dad's garden this morning!

Hand boys a sense of adventure and you won't see them in the house for hours...digging in the dirt, trying to light fires with only a flint.

Isaac's face vs. Playground equipment. Who will come out ahead? Looks like Isaac will be victorious! We told him black eyes are cool.

http://twitpic.com/fmhje - Looks kinda like a lopsided chipmunk.

http://twitpic.com/fp1in - Looks a little worse this morning, but feels better he says. And he's got a new wiggly tooth.

http://twitpic.com/fwrw9 - Today's look at Isaac's face..."Mom, it doesn't hurt" he says everytime I look at him with what must be a pai ...

(Oops over the limit!!!!!! *pained expression)

Back to reality...Thanks to everyone who helped make it a semi-kidless/KIDLESS/semi-kidless weekend.

Isaac's face is transforming...from the puffy dark purple orb that it was to the decreasing dark purple/greenish/yellowish color of healing.

I want to check into some vitamins/supplements for memory improvement, but I keep forgetting!

When everyone else seems to be packing up their camping gear, we start to dust our off for the season. It's a lot less crowded this way.

I've graduated from the can't-remember-my-locker-combination dream to the can't-text-my-tweet dream. Am I officially a grown up? or a geek?

Camping kidless is very different. Definately less food involved!

Camping with just Matt is going to have to be a annual event! Very relaxing. It is nice to be home though.

Hayden and I are arguing about whether or not a marathon runner with prosthetic legs has an unfair advantage over a runner with real legs.

I don't think we'll ever see eye to eye on this one.

I think I've become invisible. No one here can hear me asking questions and any direction I give goes unnoticed....

Just downloded Posthumus Zone to play tomorrow before we start school. Now for a plan to waylay the tackling of siblings during read-aloud.

Over the first hurdles of the day. Expectations and explanations for 6th, 11th and 12th graders. K & 2nd graders done except Language arts!

Isaac, who "hates school!" slept for 2 hours this afternoon. I think that might have been the problem.

School went much better today, even with a dentist appointment sandwiched in.

Settling down and realizing there are only 24 hours in a day and you can only do what you can do. One foot in front of the other. All day.

Finally on my way. Just Me, Sam, Isaac and the bus! (The rest of the crew will join us tomorrow)

Camp set up &supper "alone" only took an hour & 45 min not bad

"alone" = 5 yo, 8yo, and my dad (helped with awning)

Me and my margarita are watching boys + cousins start a bon fire with pine cones

Me- "isaac, grab your shoes" Isaac- "I didnt bring any"

Cold water, warm sand. Good company.

My little boys have no clean clothes and 1 more day of camping. Hmmm

Raise your hand if you love camp breakfast!

Socialization Tuesday

My friend Deb introduced me to "Socialization Tuesday". It was born in response to the inevitable "What about socialization?" question every homeschooling mom encounters.

Honestly, for those of you who don't really know, homeschoolers, at least in our area, have an over abundance of socialization options... It just doesn't happen at the same time they're trying to grasp a new math idea or diagram a sentence. Socialization opportunities are also not limited to same age relationships. Families go to the park (especially fun during the school year when it is empty!), organize field trips, or just hang out at friends houses. But I digress...

Socialization Tuesday came about when she decided her kids needed to touch on the other side of socialization. She'd steal food off their plates at lunch time, turn a kid upside down to see if any money fell out of their pockets, give nuggies and threaten swirlies for insubordination. All in fun of course, so much so that she has recently had to repeal the notion and forbid such behaviors due to nothing else getting accomplished on Tuesdays...

We've been dabbling with it at our house as well, especially the little ones. How cool is it to unmercifully tease your brother who's 9 years older than you and NOT get in trouble?!?

When yesterday, I heard myself saying this, I knew I'd have to put the cabosh on the practice as well.

"It is never OK to poke someone in the butt"

The look on their faces told me more explanation was in order...

"I don't care that it's Tuesday!"


More on our Disney trip to come...

The "S" word

When I posted this video on YouTube regaling the issues imposed on homeschoolers by uninformed members of society*, I didn't ever think that it would travel outside my circle of friends.

I'm sure, still, in the scheme of things that this is small potatoes. But, in my corner of the world, anything with me attached to it that has been viewed this many times makes me kind of giddy. I was only a last minute replacement for my verse, saving a strapping homeschool dad from sure discomfort. (Although, he was willing and it would have been hysterical.) I didn't write it or even make it to the rehearsal. But since my daughter filmed it and my name is on the YouTube account, I feel responsible for its content. Not responsible as in "Looky What I Did". Rather responsible as in "I'm Representing Homeschoolers Here, I'd Better Remain Mature".

Receiving the comments from other homeschoolers has been fun. The issues seem to be universal. When I received a negative comment I was a little taken aback. I mean, what's someone opposed to homeschooling doing looking at homeschooling videos. Then I reminded myself that's what happens when you put yourself out there.

I don't suspect that the commenter really had a beef with homeschoolers but when cloaked with anonymity we all feel a little bolder.

While contemplating my reply, I did a little research on homeschool socialization. What a wonderful reminder to me as to why this is the perfect choice for our family. I think I may do it every year.

I do have my favorite comebacks to the "What about socialization?" question just as I have them for the inquiries as to the number of children we have. I take into consideration the asker and their true intent before I pull one from my hat, and it looks as if my children are following in my footsteps.

Hailey and Hayden were awaiting the start of a concert this summer, hanging out with a bunch of their Homies (their term for Homeschool friends) up near the stage. An exchange began between them and another group of kids in close proximity. (Yes, homeschooled kids talk to just about anyone) The conversation turned towards which group had the cooler school mascot. The Schoolies were impressed with the Eagle and commented that it was much more chic than their Polar Bear.

"Where do you go to school?" They asked.

"We're homeschooled." replied Hayden.

"Well then, HOW do you know each other?"

"Our moms lets us out the basement sometimes when it's sunny."

I appreciate his humor so much more when it's not directed at me.

*The use of this term is not meant to be offensive. By definition if you don't have all the information you're said to be uninformed. It only receives a negative connotation when those with the information refuse to make use of it.

One Of Those Days

Yesterday, I was trying to change the atmosphere of my household by foregoing the usual routine. I would like to see something other than blood and broken bones craziness and chaos, if only for a moment. After breakfast, instead of starting the school day off with Whining Math, I decided it would be fun if we played a game instead. My favorite game, Quiddler.

With all the kids tied to at the table and Canon in D playing over and over on the iPod, we started. They say music tames the savage beast. I was willing, at this point, to try anything . Many times I had to tell them to knock it off! "Please straighten the tablecloth", UGH! "Please be nice to your brother.", Hands off! "Let's be encouraging instead of critical." Civility can be learned, yes?

We talked about this being played at several weddings I have attended and then I shared with them the music that I walked down the aisle to. Trumpet Voluntary. We listened to a snippet of that from iTunes before continuing with our game.

Hailey was dreamily planning her wedding concentrating on the hand she was dealt. At one point in the piece she interjected "...And this is where I will start walking down the aisle!" then added wistfully, "I'll have flutes and violins."

Sam looked at her with unbelieving eyes "Flutes and violence.....sweeeeeet!"

14 Days of Homeschool

Our homeschool support group had it's kick off meeting last week. Along with tons of information concerning opportunities for the up coming school year, there was this really funny skit.

I'm in it.

Along with a bunch of my friends.

I think it's hilarious.



Hailey was laughing so hard she found it hard to keep the camera steady.

We were asked to do it again for the talent show in the Spring.