Keeping It Simple

Honestly, I was about to post my resignation (from my job- not this blog ;)). I had determined that this mom/teacher/wife thing is too hard and I am not qualified for it any more. But I think the problem may be my laziness. Hmmmmm. I think I am going to  need to work on that! Like now.  Pray for me! 

In my life this week... chores, babysitting, school, and more chores!! Oh, the exciting, wonderful life I lead! ;) Thank you God for the privilege of being able to be home to teach and raise my children.  In our homeschool this week... reading and spelling and then more of the same. :)  Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...  I hear from people (more than a few) at this time of year that they are not sure that they can keep going. Some for very valid reasons. But some sound so regretful. They are discouraged by their "failure". They want to keep on, but fear that they are failing their children. I'll just say it- I failed my (adult) children many times over. The school system will fail your children in many ways too. That does not mean that you should not send your child to school- that just means that you have to face the fact that it is not a perfect system. Neither are we perfect families.  ...

New Orleans came to visit!  We have wanted to attend more of the events that are put on in our town, so when I heard about the "Boogie on the Bayou", I thought it would be a great chance to participate and experience a little different culture! One of the things that the boys had been hearing about on the radio was that "Alligator on a Stick" was going to be served. Not something we typically eat in these parts. ;)  Yes, they did! And, they like it!   Some fun music! Kettle Corn, hot off the press, is a universally appreciated treat. Washboard anyone? These guys were fun! We had a great time- the boys are already talking about "when we go next year...". I am going to check our local events calendar to see what else might be going on. And, I finally get to join back in at the Field Trip Blog Hops!

Paul has been working with his dad's crew officially for about a month or so. He has had opportunities before, but this a full fledged obligation (with pay- little as it may be, it adds up).   I admit that he usually groans when I come in his room to wake him at 6:30 to get ready for  work. We have never been "those homeschoolers"- the ones that wake at dawn to meet the sun. My boys like their sleep. But, last week it was different. Paul had charge of a flower bed at a house that is being fixed up for sale. Most work the company does is construction, but they have a landscape expert on the crew, so they don't outsource that. Paul was given this little planter to spruce up and he really enjoyed it- and even (sort of) jumped up the morning that he was going to put it together.  Paul got to help choose the flowers as well as lay them out and plant them.  Ground cover goes in tomorrow.  The person in charge of the landscape actually pr...

In my life this week... Tutoring an 8yo young man in math (he is adorable!), celebrating birthdays, finishing up the soccer season, babysitting grandkids, playing some games, and enjoying the company of friends.  In our homeschool this week... Much of our focus right now is getting everyone moving forward on their spelling and reading. I think it is going to be that way through the summer. I am okay with it.  Helpful homeschool tips or advice to share... Something I just read in relation to teaching our children- meet your children where they are, not where they are "suppose to be".  What's working/ not working for us...   I want to do it. I want to say limited (extremely limited) screen time again. I won't. If you want to know how it all started you can read about it in my post titled I Can't Take It Any More!  -  and if you want to hear how it has been going, you can look at my last few " Mother's Journal Posts ". I'll get off my ...

Big brother, Paul, and big sister, Erin, had obligations, and, sadly, dad was seriously under the weather, so Mark and I got to grant the birthday boy's wishes and take him out to lunch and shopping on his birthday.  James' first wish was for a Red Robin milkshake.    And Mark did not object.   Then it was off to spend birthday money that grandma had gifted him.     Oh! The possibilities!  He had just watched Avengers on opening day for his brother-in-law's birthday the week before...  so that Avengers aisle was calling to him!      To shop when you actually have money to spend! In the end, after a few modestly priced and well chosen purchases, James opted for going home and ordering some Lego kits online that he has had on his wish list. But, a trip to the store is just so much fun! 

In my life this week...  The image that pops in my mind is of when I was little and would twirl around (really fast) and lay on the lawn to look at the clouds- the whole world looked like it was spinning around me. This week has been like that that. And I can't make it stop!! ;)  In our homeschool this week... We are leaping in to the Barton reading program. It is daunting. I have been plowing through 15 hours (I actually was able to stop a few hours short of that and will watch it as we progress through book 3) of DVDs to get where I am suppose to be to tutor my son using this program. But what an education I am getting! Paul and I are working our way through Level 3, lesson 1. This program is tedious (more on that later) and Paul has gotten frustrated because he wants to skim over things he knows. My thought process (and that given on the DVDs) is that we need to get the system down. It will get more difficult, and while things are easy is the time to learn the process....

Just for fun. :)  I am sure I have showed a few of these before, but just thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite outdoor, and occasionally made up, games:  Duck Hunt:                         This picture was taken one day (a few years back) when I naively thought my boys were playing sweetly on the back porch. I had even peeked out the window a few times... then, it dawned on me what they were doing! They were playing "Duck Hunt" and their little brother was the duck! I could actually hear the nerf darts pinging of the helmet (but it was kind of them to think of a helmet, don't you think?). Well, I thought it might be prudent to put a stop to the game, but not before I captured the moment!  ????: Ummm.... I am still not sure what this is. A ball, a mitt, a baseball helmet with mask, a goal, and hockey sticks. Looks fun.  And then there...