With Great Honor....

... comes great responsibility.

(Or something like that)

Little Boo (after soccer practice last night):  Coach said I am the captain of the team!

Me:  Really?  All-time captain?

Little Boo: Yup!

(recalling Little Boo's tendencies to be a bit...erm... vocal to her teammates on the field) 
Sports Fan:  Yeah, but it doesn't mean you can boss people around!

Little Boo:  I won't.  I'll just tell them what to do.


Lovely.

Dictatorship at the hands of an 8 year old.  Should be an interesting season...

:P

Sixty Minutes

We are a homeschooling family. That means that I have the privilege of being constantly surrounded by my children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (yes, I do mean 24 hours... you should see the nightly bed rotations)

For most of my waking hours (well over 12) I am perpetually engaged. Little Love is being formally homeschooled now. And she takes up the majority of my time during the day. She is a delightful learner, and very diligent. But it is a lesson in heroic patience to calmly spell out every single word she needs to write for her Spelling sentences, to listen as she sounds out the words in her reader, to point out again where Greenland is and that she needs to place the label "just there."

Couple that with Little Boo's exasperation over a History timeline that won't line up, Religion reading that is just above her level, and the never-ending battle of taming her pencil.... along with the challenges of the older three and their ability to either disappear or annoy the hell out of each other on a minute-by-minute basis... and I'm pretty much worn out by 11am.

Enter my brilliant husband.

On the first day of homeschooling, DH was standing in the kitchen at lunch time, listening as I spelled out a word for Little Love, told Sports Fan where the Bible was, and yelled up the stairs at Action Man... all while my shaking hands attempted to make a sandwich to appease my own low-blood sugar level. He commented that he thought I needed a break.

I almost hit him with a knife full of mayo.Me? A veteran homeschool mom needing a break on the very first day??? What am I? A wimp?

But then he explained.... I need a one hour break, every day. Where I am not to be disturbed. So that I can eat lunch, sit down, have a huge glass of water... and just be. With no schoolwork to help with, and most definitely nothing to engage in. In fact, he said, everyone needs that break. No matter where they are at on their schedule, no matter how much they have gotten accomplished... from 11:30 - 12:30 the kids are to get their lunch, eat, and then play. And not bother Mom. Period.

I admit, I was skeptical. But I also saw the need. I am the type of mom (and aren't we all?) who will get everyone's lunch, wipe down the kitchen and do the dishes before I'll sit down myself and eat. I will teach Math in between bites of pb&j, while gulping down leftover cold coffee. In short, I will not take the time to care for myself and I'll end up grumpy and undernourished by the end of the afternoon. Nobody wins.

So, now we get the gift of a break. We all do. The kids make their own lunches (I'll help the younger girls) and then eat and read quietly. I make my own lunch and either eat outside by myself, or with my prayer book. Then, I'll check e-mail or maybe make some phone calls or just sit quietly outside and breathe.

I am at a certain season in my life. Our family is in this season together. The children are close in age, and all self-sufficient. They can all play together.. and often do. There are no toddlers or newborns (yet... very soon, though!) and we (I) have the luxury of an hour of (relative) peace. (no method is perfect of course... we have had some unrest and bickering during our "breaks"... ) And I understand that for many homeschooling moms, this hour of solace in the middle of the day is an unrealistic expectation. But I would encourage those who can... make use of naptimes to enforce a quiet time for your non-nappers. Put out books and puzzles or even put on a little show..... just to be able to disengage... to breathe and clear your mind. To give the schooling ones a chance to recuperate from a morning of intense learning. (It's amazing how a stubborn math problem unravels like magic after an hour of outdoor play.)

You yourself will be a more cheerful, patient mom. And that is a gift every child needs.

:)

Welcome Fall!!

Tomorrow

 

Forecast:

 

 

Sunny 

 

Temperature:  76°

Chance of Precip:  0%

 

Wind: N at 9 mph

:)

Lights, Camera.... *fizzle*

When I was in High School, I was in an acting troupe.  Our "Youth Group" would travel around upstate NY and put on plays for other youth groups.  My first play was a bit of a disaster.... there were no tryouts, and I was cast in some measly role that just did NOT display my awesome talent. Or, so I thought at the oh-so-experienced age of 13.

;P

At my high school, I acted in the musicals, and my junior year was given one of the lead! roles!  So very exciting.  I was the Queen in Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella.  

My time in the limelight was short-lived, however, as I attended a college that did not, as yet, have an acting troupe.  (They do now, of course...)

Enter life-after college.  After exhausting all of my resources trying to look for a job in Canada... yeah, they didn't take too kindly to the illegal-immigrant status I was sporting.... I signed up with a talent agency and did one. little. nothing. photo shoot for a bank.  Yay.  I spent the next year tutoring ESL and making good money.  So much for life in the fast lane.

And then.  When Little Love turned 5 last year, I realized that, perhaps, I could try it once more.  Figuring that I had learned a few things about the lingo of the business, I responded to a few innocuous craigslist ads, and found myself with a couple of appointments.  After chatting on the phone and threatening to walk out of the shoot if it was anything other than what I was hearing... (I am so compliant that way) I showed up to the first studio with Lil Sis in tow. (She's an awesome bodyguard)  I met the director, did some yoga poses, got paid, and left.  Easy Peasy.

Since that first foray, I've done a hair spot and an evening of "extra" work on the new cable show "The Good Guys" starring Colin Hanks.  (Yes, I saw him... no, I didn't talk to him... although it was totally cool to watch a take of a shooting car chase being filmed in downtown Dallas!)  My part?  I walked past a store.  Tons of talent needed there, let me tell you.

:P

And then.  I found out I was pregnant.  Nausea and fatigue are simply not conducive to happy-smiley camera work.  Lol.  And so, my amazing career as a part-time "extra" for commercials or print or any acting whatsoever is on hold. Indefinitely. 

Here's how it ended:

(phone ringing) The Call: Meegan? (yes, that's how they pronounced my name) This is Louie. (I kid you not!  Isn't that hilarious???) How are you looking for a commercial audition this weekend?

Me: (thoroughly snickering) Well, I'm looking about 6 months pregnant.

*crickets*

Me: Yeah.  Maybe get back to me in about a year.

Louie:  Oh, right!  Hey, congratulations!


I can hear the delete button being pushed on my profile....

And you know what?  I am totally ok with that.  Totally.

:)

More Of Me To Love

So, the countdown is on.  6 weeks to go, and then Little Dude will come screaming into our lives.  I know he will be screaming, because:
(a) Every. SINGLE. one of my children have been colicky... I don't even hold out hope anymore for that elusive "easy" baby, and...
(b) This kid has not stopped kicking me since I hit the 4 month mark.

I am worn and battered, y'all.

I've suffered (?) the usual pregnancy woes... insomnia, vein troubles, stomach growth (ha!), and my newest friend... heartburn.

LOVIN' the heartburn.  No, really.  For once I'm half serious. 

You see, for each of my previous pregnancies, I gained about 60 lbs. And this time around, I was sure that my legs and back would not be able to handle that kind of baggage.  My doctor had been urging me to stick to the recommended 25-30 lb. range. 
*Excuse me while I laugh uproariously* 
You see, once I hit the non-nausea stage, I'm all over food.  Literally.
:P

Except.  Now I've got heartburn.  As in, I simply cannot eat a thing after 9pm.  Especially ice cream, cake, cookies... you name it.  If I want to indulge, it has to be early in the day, with the kids bugging me as to why I get ice cream at 3pm and they don't, and don't I feel like a mean Mama for dishing myself a bowl when they're having peanut butter on bread and...

Yeah.  Forget it.

So, I go to bed dutifully with my glass of ice water, munching away on the melting ice cubes, thus granting myself a night free from the burning in my throat and chest. 

And the payoff?

A pound a week.
Mission accomplished.
:D

Oh, except for the swelling in my ankles...

Now there's a worthy topic.

;P

Why I Love Our Homeschool Co-op

I get to house mighty little vikings like this one... and listen as she regales me with tales about her conquests in the new world! 

And truly, there is nothing like hearing about Galileo and his theories in the lispy-speak of  an excited 5 year old.

Love. It.

:)

Exchange

As Little Boo and Little Dear were vociferously getting ready for our garage sale next week....


Little Boo (indignantly plunking down three pairs of shoes):  We're selling these, these, these...  and Little Dear!



:P

Never Forget

{this moment}

{this moment}- a single photo, no words, capturing a moment from this week.

This one taken from our trip to Colorado two weeks ago, celebrating my mom's birthday.

:)

Because We Were Separated at Birth....

... and because my brain can barely string two sentences together...

I present to you my "twin" Danielle, who has perfectly captured every aspect of my thoughts on homeschooling.


My Annual Homeschool Freak Out



Yes, we started yesterday. Yes, it's overwhelming. No, I wouldn't change it for a thing.

And here we go again today.

:)

Seven Quick Takes... Vol I

No, I've never ever in my blogging years have done this quick takes thingy before.  But my brain is fried and my house is a mess and we are all still wishing we were in Colorado at my parents house sipping hot tea in the freezing cold mornings and watching the deer nibble on the grass outside.

~1~

Yes, we took one last summer trip to the Rocky Mountains to terrorize see my parents last week.   13 hours there, 12 hours back.  And 8 glorious days in humane temperatures.  We warned the kids that there would be no. special. trips. once we got there.  Only unlimited outdoor playtime.  The first day was a bit rough, with sleep deprivation and the whole not-used-to-playing-outside thing... but after that, they made full use of the woods, tree house, and hot tub... along with movies and board games and coloring and playing with Grandma's stash of kid toys. I got a lot of school planning done, and it was just simply heavenly all around.

~2~

Oh! But we did take them places... never fear.  My mom and I drove 2 hours with the kids to the Hot Springs to spend the day in the spring-fed river, pools, and water slide.  It was awesome.  The kids had a blast, and I loved the unlimited water/sun-minus-humidity combo. A stop at the ice cream store on the way home was the cherry on top. The next day, my folks took all the kids out so DH and I could go get lunch by ourselves.  That, too, was amazing.  And much-needed.
:)

~3~

As much fun as it was, we may never go away again.  :P  Upon arriving home, we noticed that our cat was covered in "dirt"... which was quickly ascertained to be dried blood... which was quickly traced to his tongue... which had been cut on his cat food can... which we had told the neighbor to just open for him every day.  Well, apparently by the end of the week, he had somehow attacked the can with a vengeance and split his tongue.  Off to the vet DH went (after driving 12 hours that day) to shell out a small fortune to have the cat put under general anesthesia so his tongue could be stitched up.  Antibiotics and 2 days later, he re-opened the wound and we'll just have to leave it.  Totally worth the original $500 we plunked down, dontcha think?  Ugh.

~4~

The second day we were home, the upstairs bathroom had a bit of an overflow problem.  I got the phone call from an oh-so-calm Sports Fan as I ran errands around town.  The first words out of his mouth when I answered my cell phone were:

OHMYGOSH MOMCOMEHOMEQUICKTHE  (mumble mumble)WATERPOURING (mumble)CEILING(mumble) HOMESCHOOLROOM(mumble)FLOODING!!!!!

Yes.

That was just what I wanted to hear.

~5~

DH's initial reaction to this incident is not blog-approved.  However, by the time he came home from work, he actually hugged the offending party and assured the person that it was fixable, not to worry.  Then he stood there with his hands on his head staring up at the ceiling for a long time.  Which made Little Boo pronounce him to be in a "bad mood" so no one should talk to him.
:P

~6~

Soccer season is upon us!  Little Boo had her first practice yesterday, after watching Lil Sis' first game.  Sports Fan is also playing this year (different team, different field, different organization altogether... sigh) But the two of them have been practicing together non-stop.  I am constantly yelling at them to pick up their cleats and shin guards and will they please put their socks in the wash?  But I do love this time of year... it means Fall is on the way!  And who doesn't love Fall?

~7~

Which leads me to my final "take."  Little Dude is set to make his appearance (via c-section) Oct 29th. He's growing well (and so am I, thankyouverymuch).  There are still times I look down at my stomach and can't believe I'm pregnant. (I know, my grasp on reality is stellar) But it's more of a joyous disbelief.  I still worry, believe it or not... and I know I will, until we both come out of surgery with clean bills of health.  If you think of it, between now and then, would you mind offering a prayer up for us?  I really really hate this surgery... and this will be my fourth time going through it.  I need peace.. in my heart and mind... that all will be well.
Thank you, friends!


Go visit Jen at Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

:)