3 Week Reprieve

Wow. We made it through the first 3 weeks. Okay, you know those first day jitters I was talking about? Well, I definitely got over that idea real fast. Our first day I described as "apocalyptic." It was rough, people. Everyone cried. It sounded like wailing and gnashing of teeth in this house before lunch! I tell you though, it sure did set us up because we could only go up from there, and I would say we finished the 3 week session with success.

I think the hard first day made us realize we are going to have to decide that we are going to be serious. My girls worked hard to play a little (or a lot of) review and catch-up. Breana got the brunt of it as I realized she did not know her multiplication tables well enough to move on. She is still working on it, but atleast she is ready to do the next lesson, now. She did finish her 3rd grade Language and has started "Language A." She is enjoying Language so that's encouraging. Caitlyn has stepped up to the plate and done atleast triple the work that I would normally expect of them. It's making for a lot of seatwork, but she has worked at it well. How pleasantly surprised she is going to be when she gets to her new books and has so much less busy work. I truly hope to replace it with reading, but ssshhhhh! Don't tell anyone!

We started some projects with our History and Science, and we are working on finishing them during this, our week off. We made a Light Hut for Science and a Salt Dough Map to illustrate our geography vocabulary words. We've also made scimitars in History.

In Bible we learned about Deference and Cheerfulness, which was needed for all of us, and the kids are memorizing their verses well. It's also nice to have something that we all know we are responsible to know when we start acting like humans. LOL.

Jadon and Graycen have been hanging out for all of this, and they are too funny. Jadon has done great with his schoolwork. He is sounding out words even though he tells me all the time that he can't read! He is also picking up a lot from the girls. One day as Bree was reviewing her times tables on Timez Attack (which by the way is an excellent resource online. It is a game that all the kids love watching or playing and it is free!). She was working on the 6's and she has to quickly recall and type in the answer to the problems as they flash onto the ogre's belly. 6x6 flashed up and Breana had to ponder for a moment. Jadon is standing beside her jumping up and down at the prospect of knocking that ogre down, knowing she has a limited amount of time. Finally, in desparation, he yells "36!!" I got so tickled. I also love to use him as my circus monkey when Daddy gets home. "Jadon, what's a vascular plant?" "A plant with tubes in it," he promptly spits out. "And what's a nonvascular plant?" "One that sucks up water like a paper towel." He's my little genius! ;)

Graycen mostly cares about the color of the cover of her workbook. I am using Rod & Staff's pre K books for her. She is flying through them just to get to the pink book. I hope that she'll find a new goal after she has gotten through it. In 3 weeks she has done 2 books, and she is writing 1's and 2's pretty well. It is mostly writing readiness. She has to match things that are alike, and circle the different object in the row, but I have been surprised too. In a few exercises, she has had to match the objects that go with the object in the center of the page. I've been surprised that she could identify objects that were used in the garage, kitchen, and with the sewing machine. Rod & Staff is a Mennonite company and the pictures are not of the most modern tools, yet she still can identify where they are used even though she has never really seen a beater with the crank handle on the top. 1 more book to finish before she is in the pink book! I hope it is worth all the work!

Woah! I really didn't anticipate writing this long. If you actually read this brain of mine, thanks and sorry! We also have already been on field trips, so I'll have to do a post on them too. For now, I've got to get up. My bottom is sore from sitting here!

First Day of School Jitters

Okay, so I'm not so jittery, but it dawned on me that my kids won't know that "first day of school" anticipation thing. I realized that I've been trained to have that little flutter of excitement about the first day of school, but they don't get it. Maybe I can make some traditions to help them look forward to it.

Today is that day. I'm going to be waking them up in just a few minutes, and my time will be over. I came to the realization this year that I am a full time teacher when we are in school. That was a shift for me. This year, instead of overseeing their education, I feel like I need to be in charge of it. This is a little backwards from what I thought it should be, but I realized we don't run like the smooth oiled machine I think we are (note a little sarcasm). I thought as they get older I would be more the overseer, but you can only do that if they've been trained to be responsible for it. That is definitely a goal this year. The older girls will have to learn to learn. I am the manager of this home, and I don't think I've been very active in that role.

I think I'm going to have to get up earlier too. Not surprising to me. I used to do that well, but have become lazy. Self discipline is hard for me too. Hmmm. Maybe a little mercy in that training is in order. It's hard to learn without a model.

I want to find order and organization and routine this year. Can that be mixed with fun and play and love? That will be my quest for balance this year. I see those homes that do that well, but I'm not sure how to do that.

Hopefully, this year (school year), I'll be able to keep up with this blog to help me document our progress and activity. It would be nice to be able to look back and it all be in one place. So here's to hopin' and first day jitters!

A Real Life Kids Say the Darndest Things!

I teach 4 year old choir at church, just in case some of you don't know. I had a good friend come on Wednesday night and her daughter was in my choir. Becca did great, and Thursday morning I woke up to this email:

"Just thought I would let you know that Becca had a blast tonight. She came out saying that she learned about cats and dogs and "how to eat fish without your teeth." Then she said that her teacher has "the most beautiful singing" and that you sang about Jesus and God and college. Thanks....I think - LOL :)"

Becca at a Birthday Party. It was the only pic I had quickly!

I'm really glad Becca had a good time, but man, I wish I had had as good of a time as she did! There are some kids you can put on the witness stand and some you just can't! LOL! I love you Becca!

So...Christmas?

Okay, I am a bad, bad blogger. Now, my sis-in-law and uber cool friend Katie are trying to get me to do Facebook. I know I am the only one on the planet that isn't, but do they really know who they are talking to? I WILL get back to disney, one day. Suffice it to say we had a great time, and I'm already wondering how soon we can get away with going back! I'm thinking 2 years would be pushing it, so maybe 3. We had a great experience, though!

I thought I would get one blog done before Christmas to tell my 2 readers Merry Christmas. I just sat down with a cup of coffee so I can start round 2. The grits casserole is made. I have biscuits and clementines to go with that...coffee, tea, juice. I guess that covers that. I need to set my table, but first I have to finish a present! You read that right! Mom, don't gasp. Yeah, I know you're gonna see this sooner or later. It is 12:30 and I've got to pull out my sewing machine. You know, what I've got to do will not take me long, it's just the pulling out the machine part. Earlier I was thinking of all the wrong and bad things I would do to get a craft room. I would've already went in there and sat down and whipped this thing out, but now I have to mess up my dining room at the last minute. Oh well. That's what I get for being a crafty mom - with crafty kids. I'm making a puppet stage, by the way. 3 to 5 panels with a pocket at the top to hang off of a tension rod. Not hard, but ugh.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, um, later this morning. I'm pleased with all of the gifts. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when I crawl back in my bed and take a nap! I think we are going to let the kids scavenge for their presents, but that does mean 1 more thing to do. It's worth it though. I want to make memories. I want them to say remember when... I just want them to come back home and bring their babies and laugh and remember - and WANT to!

Well, the coffee is gone, and this elf must go back to work! Merry Christmas everybody!

talk later...

Hollywood! Da-dada-dada-dada Hollywood!

The day at Hollywood Studios started off really beautiful. We folllowed all of our advice, directions, and orders and sent the guys straight to Toy Story Mania for fast passes. Well worth it!! We had so much fun. All 6 of us got to ride, and guess who was high scorer? Yup, ME! LOL. Well, later on I found out everyone was helping the child that they were riding with, but not me. No siree, Graycen, you are on your own! I had 115,900 points. Graycen scored a respectable 10,900 all by herself.

We got autographs from Mickey, Bolt and Mittens (from the new movie Bolt), Prince Caspian, and Buzz and Woody. We also got pictures with Lightning McQueen and Mater and Mike and Sully. Oh, we also saw the Block Party Parade. Jadon's highlight was of course, Toy Story Mania and Star Tours. He rode Star Tours twice in a row! We saw stunt shows, but the best show by far was Fantasmic. The only damper was that it was sooooo freezing COLD!! Fantasmic was amazing, but the crowds favorite part was when the dragon lights the whole lake in front of us on

fire! LOL. We were sticking up our hands to warm them. It was spectacular though.

Nothing happened worth sending to Funniest Home Videos. To be honest, we are exhausted, but everyone seems to be hanging in there pretty well. Jadon was funny when the High School Musical 3 show got to rockin' and he just couldn't stand it any more. The funniest part is that he is oblivious! He can kinda move too! LOL. Graycen has done great with the characters, and by the time we got to Buzz and Woody, she was hugging and kissing them both! I was trying SO hard to get it on film and my camera had had it. Out of batteries. I am loving the Photopass people, but this girl wasn't very attentive, and was waiting for the group shot. I want to kick myself for not charging the batteries overnight, but I forgot and had to settle for just while we were dressing. Not quite enough juice. Won't make that mistake again!

Talk later...tomorrow is Magic!

Do you Sea what I sea?

Oh my goodness. I really am having a hard time remembering what happened yesterday, but let's see what I can do! We did not have internet service last night, so I wasn't able to update. We went to Sea World, and it was a beautiful day.

The highlight of the day was the Shamu show. Why? Because my baby was the star! LOL! Breana was chosen as we were walking in to be the audience helper! They took her backstage to make sure she would answer the trainer's questions and she new where she lived. About 1/2 way through the show they came a got her and took her to a box at the edge of the pool where she got a whale tail necklace, told them she wanted to be a cook when she grew up, FED SHAMU, and watched the rest of the show from the box!! I understand that her mom was more excited than she was - she was pretty nervous - but I was beside myself!

We saw every animal at the park - literally! The only thing we missed was petting a dolphin. We had to put it off when we went by because they were being fed and they wouldn't come to our side of the pool while the fish were at the other end. We decided we'd come back, and it just took too long to get back over there. Tentatively, we have a plan to go back Sat. morning just to pet the dolphins.

Well, after we missed the dolphins (and I knew we were chancing it to get back), I sprung for sea lion food. Two trays. Six fish. Eight dollars. You have never in your life seen so much activity! First of all, I have to tell you that there are predatory pelicans and other birds watching for unsuspecting sea lion feeders. Well, Jadon is just the feeder they were looking for! One of the pelicans as big as he is started coming toward him for his fish. He started screaming like a girl, like a wolf had treed him! He throws his fish and we start yelling for him to stop and be quiet!! He is freaking out. Graycen starts screaming. Caitlyn starts chasing the bird. It is mass pandamonium. Finally, we all calmed down and got out of there. At the time, Jason and I wanted to kill Jadon because of the screaming. It makes my adrenaline go through the roof and I feel like my eyeballs are going to explode. Finally, I asked Graycen what her problem was and she says, "That fish hit my leg." Okay, I hope this is comical for you. At the time I was not amused, but we have been laughing about it and reliving it for 2 days. Sometimes to the point of tears. I wish I had had my wits about me to take some video. We could stay at disney for a whole nother month with the money we could win!!

I know I'll remember more details, but this is all you get at 11 p.m. the next night! Our souveniers included bamboo wind chimes and an animal toob for Breana, a big Shamu for Caitlyn, a sting ray for Jadon, and a musical baby "shampu" whale for Graycen. The day and park were beautiful. We'd do it again, birds and all, in a heartbeat!!

Graycen and Isabel at the "Polar Express"

talk later...

Disney World Here We Come!

I am so tired. I mean tired. Really. So tired. It's my own fault, but we are having a great time!

Yesterday, after all day in the car we found our house we are staying in unloaded the vans and went straight to the magic kingdom! We got there in time to see the Spectromagic Parade and watch the fireworks. I got so excited when I saw the castle! I didn't realize how excited I would be! I started squealing and squeaking at the kids. They just looked at me like, "Well, ye-ah! (Read, "duh.")" They were actually really excited too. We started our photopass card with a shot in front of the castle but I think that really you will just see the setting that surrounded us which was CHRISTMAS! They have already begun the Christmas decorations, so that has added a little magic too!

It will take me a while to get a bunch of pics ready, so I'll just post a few.

We got in late last night, but we were all having fun - well Jadon was ready to melt down, but sometimes we just can't count the 5 year old boy.

This morning started early, and we headed for Animal Kingdom. While the dads got fast passes for the safari ride - the name escapes me right now - we went to the information place to get our first time visitor buttons and a birthday button for Jacob (he'll be 8 next week). We all sang Happy Birthday and the cast member had some fun with him. We loved the safari ride, except for Breana who said the radio guy's voice was freaky and she already has this weird fear of bridges so when we had to "go over" one that was falling apart, she got a little tense! LOL. It was really funny. We DID Animal Kingdom! We were right to assume that our crowd could spend all day there, and probably could have spent more, but we were fortunate it closed at 6 because everyone, deep down, was ready. The hightlights of the day were: autographs from Lilo & Stitch, Terk, and Donald Duck; the girls riding their first roller coaster - the mount Everest one - it even got to me a little, so we were proud; seeing the tigers and gorillas, the It's tough to be a bug show, which, thanks to Graycen I only saw 1/2 of! LOL; the Finding Nemo musical show and the Festival of the Lion King. Our souvenirs for the day were pressed pennies which was very cheap of us, but we want them to weigh their decisions. They have been really content and we've stayed out of gift shops.

At the end of the day these were the favorites. Breana: Mt Everest Expedition ride and the Finding Nemo show.

Caitlyn: It's tough to be a bug show! Jadon: It's tough to be a bug show and when we left the Festival of the Lion King, Jadon said, "That was a great show!" He is so cute

Graycen: "Seeing Donald Duck." If the girl ever acts shy, you know she is lying.

That's all for now, I have got to sleep! Tomorrow we are off to Sea World, and maybe a little Epcot. We've discovered we got 7 days of DW park tickets and not 6! Sea World closes at 6, so if we can stand it we may go to Epcot to check out the luminations show. I'll be checking in soon!