Not Back To School

If you had told me 8 years ago that there would come a time when whole months would pass by without posts on my blog, I would have literally laughed at you.

The stories I have to tell aren't my own anymore, though. The kids, they grow.

Damn them.

And my own life has felt less shareable as of late. Add those compounds together and shake vigorously to get a blog with cobwebs and crickets in every corner.

Still, I have these stories in my head... They may get told. Maybe not.

Until then:

 Checkers outside. "So Fun, Mommy!" Score.

 A week studying Italy resulting in art, flags, and dinner prepared by my 9 year old. Score.

 Helping with the Ricotta cookies. YUM.

 First day of school on the floor in the middle of many storage boxes.

A fourth grader! She is the same age that Justin was when I pulled him from public school... Unfathomable.

Forced togetherness with my 13 year old because posing for first day of school pics is NOT COOL anymore.

Quiet Kids

 It got awfully quiet around 2 pm today. We had finished school work, made and eaten chili and we didn't have any plans for a few hours. By some strange chance of fates, the stars aligned, and I had not only the desire but also the ENERGY to clean the upstairs bathroom, so I had been incommunicado for at least an hour (it was a very messy bathroom. Like, WOAH). When I carried the bags (PLURAL) of bathroom trash downstairs, this is what I found:

Inside, I found my two youngest kids, reading quietly and just chilling out together. They have grand plans to sleep in the fort together tonight and have even prepared for times of famine by stocking said fort with bananas and saltines.

I don't really know if they would be this close if they weren't together all of the time. I tend to think that the logical answer is "No, they wouldn't." Not too many 7th and 3rd graders play and giggle and hang out the way that these two do, and I am really grateful for this moment in time. The advantage to SO much time together is that the time that is spent arguing is just a tiny fraction of their time together, rather than the ONLY time they have together. 

We miss having Justin home with us, but I know he needed time away from all of us. Too much togetherness isn't what suits his personality, and, though it stings, I understand.

If you hear me complain about my kids arguing, it's because they're kids. 

They're siblings. They argue. 

It happens.

But they also really, really like each other. They're siblings. They're friends. They're classmates. 

They love each other. It's awesome.

Educmacation

The 2014 school year has begun without nearly as much pomp and circumstance as in years gone by. Justin is a sophomore at public school and is doing fine (knock on wood!). No big surprises for him and he seems to be feeling like an old pro now that he's in his second year back at school.

Didn't take a first day photo of him because I am a sucky mom who doesn't wake up at 6 am.

Evan is in 7th grade! SEVENTH. This is insane. I started homeschooling him near the end of first grade, so to think that we've been doing this for almost 6 years is pretty astonishing. Obviously, we're doing SOMEthing right, because he's progressing along at his own rate and continues to grow in maturity each year. We're upping the science and writing for him this year in preparation for high school in 2 years (his idea, not mine) and so far, on day 3 of this regime, he's doing pretty damn good. He's accepting the routine and the assignments without skimping and without TOO much pressure. I think he's on the right road to claiming more of the responsibility for his education, and that makes me beyond proud.

Evan's first day of 2nd grade, our first FULL year of homeshooling him...

 Corinne is in THIRD GRADE. This kid has only been inside of "schools" for Girl Scout meetings and hasn't seemed to suffer for any lack of "social interaction." In fact, I still need to rein her in to keep her focused on the family and her own business, rather than friends all the time. I don't know if it's because she's a girl, my third child, or if it's her own natural personality, but this kid is crazy responsible. She loves the daily checklists and always corrects her work if it's incorrect. She's not afraid to ask questions or try new things (though it's still a challenge to get her to read chapter books).

Corinne on her first day of Pre-school, because she insisted she needed to do school TOO.

 I can't believe how much they've grown and how long we've been homeschooling.... Wow.

Why Our Summer is Jam Packed with Activities

I remember when the boys were in traditional school and summer vacation was a huge deal. It was a break from the driving, waking up, strict bedtimes, lunch-making, homework-fighting, over-scheduled SCHEDULE. It was freedom and I embraced it fully. We would do a few activities and a vacation or two, but mostly it was unfettered freedom. Summer back then was days and weeks of nothing but popsicles and bicycles, cardboard box forts and sidewalk chalk.

Now that my kids are older and have been homeschooled for 5 years, our summers are more scheduled than before, but it is offset by the fact that the rest of our lives are NOT so rigidly partitioned out. I am going to try and remind myself of this difference so that I will stop complaining about being overly scheduled this summer. Every single activity or class or camp or vacation is desperately desired, and we do still have down time here and there, but this summer will not be remembered as "free and breezy", like the summers of our past used to be. My children don't need to make the most of the summer and having endless days of making cardboard box forts outside in July, because they do that on a regular basis throughout the school year!

Despite the multi-colored Google calendar that buzzes with reminders every day, we have already had plenty of popsicles and s'mores in the backyard. We have managed to relax at the pool several times and have even spent hours and hours watching the stars. I've gardened every day and when it rains, we have played board/card games for an entire afternoon. Not because it was on a manifesto, but because that's kind of what we naturally do.

It's been busy, for sure, but being busy isn't a horrible thing for us. My kids' entire existence is full of free time to build and create and play and bike. 3 months of a slightly hectic schedule of fun activities isn't going to kill them. I understand the draw to the Summer of Nothing. I totally get it! That's part of why we homeschool, to be honest; more time to do Nothing. In the space of Nothing is where the creative processes of our minds have room to breathe, room to grow, room to create.

I love that summertime inspires people to live with more space between the to-do lists. Honestly, it's how we live most of the months of the year. And while I am enjoying the scheduled activities that can only take place in the summertime, I will actually be excited around August when all of the neighborhood kids go back to school and my household can slow down a little bit again. My kids will be able to just work and play and hang and learn at the chilled pace we're accustomed to.

Until then, we'll stick to our schedule and live the lives of making sack lunches and planning outfits every day. It's kind of a novelty to us. 

This is actually a school day picture. We call it P.E.

Just a little Monday non-rant*

This post is probably not direct at you. You are probably a very open-minded, courteous person, who understands that we do not, and CAN not, all walk the same path in Life. Can you imagine how crowded that path would be? Can you imagine how BORING the dinner conversations would sound if everyone on Earth always saw the same sights, breathed the same aromas, tasted the same foods, and spoke the same thoughts? I would never assume to know what is best for you or your family. If you are the crunchiest of vegans or the most frequent customer of fast food restaurants, it is not my place to judge or offer opinions. If you choose to pay for your children to go to private schools instead of vacations at Disney World, it is none of my concern. How then does my own family's decision to homeschool become a topic for which vitriolic comments can spiral out of control?

Getting even the reluctant pre-teen involved in art

I want to clarify that I don't mind talking about homeschooling. I really don't. Most of the time. But, as with most things in life, it is impossible for me to adore every aspect of it! So when I am asked by someone I have just met, "You homeschool?!? How does that 'work' for you?" I can get a little...frustrated. I mean, I don't want to discourage anyone who may be secretly hoping to homeschool! I definitely want to paint a clear and honest picture of the benefits and trials that this lifestyle presents, but it's a very complicated question! There's more to homeschooling than just picking a curriculum or reading a few books. It's a lifestyle choice that most people cannot imagine. It's also a lifestyle choice that some people, who have absolutely NO experience with homeschooling WHATSOEVER, have definite opinions about. I have found that to say "I homeschool," can be met with anger or a response that tries to justify their own decision for their child's education; as if I were judging them by making this choice. Needless to say, when you hear that I homeschool and then give me that astounded face as you look me up and down (trying to find the long prairie-style dress), I may feel a little cautious about revealing my heart.

Field trips can be out-of-state when you homeschool...

I mean, it is not a question that can be adequately answered during small-talk getting-to-know-you chat. In fact, it's actually a very personal question. You wouldn't ask the same question about other life choices. Would you? Would you ask someone you have just met, "You're Jewish?!? How does that 'work' for you?" or "You're Republican? How does that 'work' for you?" Would you question someone, about their decision to bottle feed or cloth diaper? Would you incredulously query them about their decisions? (If the answer is 'yes', then may I please introduce you to the idea of meditating about WHY you are so worried about the choices another makes?)

If you are of a different belief/lifestyle/life choice/etc. than I am, I will definitely be interested and hope that we can have several conversations about our differences; once we are closer. But, just as I don't expect you to feel comfortable discussing your reasons for converting to a new religion with a complete stranger, I hope you don't expect me to feel comfortable for discussing all of the personal reasons we have accumulated for homeschooling our children.

At least, not in a 5 minute-doorway-meet-n-greet.

Totally well-adjusted, perfectly "socialized" 8 year old girl. SHOCKING!

We'll need at least 10 minutes for that.

*Because it's not really a rant. I'm not angry and "rants" connote "anger." Just a spilling of my brain waves onto the screen...

Stream of Thought

Not to beat a dead horse, but this winter is kinda pissing me off. I don't think we need to make up for 3 mild winters ALL IN ONE FELL SWOOP. I also think it's beyond ridiculous that this massive amount of snow will be melting in the next 4 days. Once the rain begins to fall, and fall, and fall (as the meteorologists continue to predict), all of that precipitation will combine with the accumulated precipitation that is already gathered in heaping drifts around my home...and it will need to go somewhere. Seeing as how the ground is frozen solid, and that we have a history of a slight water issue in our basement (we need to reseal it and probably get another sump pump), I foresee water in the basement this weekend. There is extra awesome added to this possibility (probability) as Patrick will be out of town all weekend and I will be gone for Corinne's gymnastics meet all day on Saturday. Joy! I am positive that Saturday will be filled with absolutely NO anxiety or tension. None-whatsoever. (One truly good part is that Justin will probably want to stay home on Saturday and can then be on water lookout. That said, I don't know how much actual "good" he can accomplish on his own.)

TOPIC CHANGE

At this very moment, instead of hanging out at our usual Tuesday Homeschool co-op, my kids are building a ferris wheel from K'nex. All by themselves. Rather, Corinne built the first half ALL by herself and Evan saw how awesome it looked and said "Can I help?" So now, they are building together without arguing and I am calling this physics/engineering/art/family-team-building time.

Good thing, because I am not in the mood to play referee this morning.

Melisa and I had our LTYM auditions this weekend. In the past 2 years, we suffered greatly from the emotional trauma that comes from hearing pieces that can be brutally painful. Part of the show's beauty, for us at least, is knowing that even though we cannot cast every person who auditions, each person was able to receive validation that their story IS worthy of being told and heard. Motherhood is "given a microphone" in those auditions and that is just as important to us as the actual cast and show itself. Still, it's rough on our hearts. Like, neither of us slept on Saturday night. She had anxiety and I had nightmares that woke me up, sobbing so badly that my stomach was sore the next day. Not the best way to get an ab workout, but I guess every situation has a silver lining.

That said, we KNEW the show this year. Like, it was presented to us and the discussions about each piece were nearly always unanimous on our emotional levels and their need to be in the show. We didn't question ourselves or our abilities to choose the right ones, even if we did need to place dozens and dozens of truly lovely essays into the "no" pile. The amount of time that each person placed in their preparation was SO evident and I cannot say enough how honored this makes us feel. Chicago is amazing. I hope LTYM continues for years and years and years so that we can showcase more of these amazing writers.

Sigh.

Daily life is calling. Laundry, dishes, showers, school... Also, I spoke too soon about the happy-happy family moment over a table full of K'nex. Melt downs are happening. The peace was lovely while it lasted.

Because Girls CAN Do Anything Boys Can Do

*Disclaimer-This is a compensated post to promote DiscoverE.org, a website dedicated to introducing students, parents, and educators to engineering, engaging them in hands-on engineering experiences and making science and math relevant.*

There has been a growing concentration of media attention in regards to girls and their exposure to engineering, especially at an early age. As a mother of 2 sons and a daughter (my youngest), my home has an abundance of engineering/problem solving toys and activities. That said, I stepped back recently and evaluated what "we" owned and what "she" owned - I was a little disgusted with myself in that most of Corinne's mechanical and engineering exposure exists as hand-me-downs from her brothers. Aside from a few lego sets and building blocks, all of the really "cool" stuff was once owned by a BOY.

There is nothing wrong with hand-me-downs! I know this; you know this. Second-hand toys are a staple of life and I could not exist without them. What does this say to my daughter, though? Have I unknowingly assisted the world in perpetuating the idea that women are not equipped to handle the fields of engineering?

Enough!  Enough of that. My girl is brilliant and creative and loves to build everything from elaborate blanket forts to a "zip line" in the backyard. She has just as much talent and interest in the processes of building and problem-solving as her brothers do and should always be exposed to as many hands-on activities as they are!

When I was contacted to promote DiscoverE.org , I jumped at the chance. not only because I needed a kick in the pants to be MORE "Hands on" with my children's engineering exposure, but also because I homeschool and the DiscoverE site and Facebook page has fantastic resources for engineering activities and videos. In fact, I just spent half an hour with my daughter on some of the links their site provided. We built a parachute that could withstand the rigors of a Mars entry but would also fit into the minimal volume of the canister that is provided on the spacecraft. We assigned work projects to scientists of different abilities and discussed what the words "computer, supercomputer, and grid" meant. We had fun playing games that are designed for KIDS and she learned, once again, that she is capable and smart; she is able to be anything she puts her mind to.

Some people hear the word "engineer" and think of about 2 stereotypes: a guy in coveralls, driving a train, and a mechanical-type figure of eras gone past. But engineering is more than that! If includes career choices from nearly any field imaginable: medicine, law, manufacturing, and agriculture. Engineering is required to build not only bridges and buildings but also infrastructures that help to feed and clothe the world. If there are problems that need to be solved, engineering comes into play!

As a homeschooling family, bringing science and math into our "everyday" is more than just a supplement to their education: it IS their education! The projects available through DiscoverE encourage our daughters and sons to consider all of the options that exist in this hugely diverse world. One of the most intriguing ideas I have found out about through DiscoverE is the FutureCity.org competition. In fact, I am researching if our homeschooling co-op is able to register for the 2015 competition! I think our middle school kids would really pull together and create something unique.

For more information on encouraging your daughter in the fields of engineering, join in on Twitter for a #GirlDay2014 #STEMchat on February 19 at 9 PM Eastern in honor of Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day

A day in our homeschool...

Thought it would be fun to do a "typical day in the life of a homeschooler" on my own site. A blog I often enjoy called Simple Homeschool has a series that invites homeschooling parents to share their days. Since I doubt I'll be invited, I decided to just do it on my own blog. The difficult part about sharing a "typical day" is that no day is ever quite like the next! So how about we say that this is a description of a somewhat-typical Wednesday in February, and leave it at that. Of course, as I say that, I realize that I truly have no idea what today will actually hold in store for us, which is, actually, really freaking typical.

5:30 am. Alarm beeps. Normally, this is where my husband, Patrick, would wake up to go shake our eldest awake for high school. Justin was homeschooled from 4th through 8th grade and went back to public this year. It's been an adjustment for us all, with the biggest change being that Justin has to wake up at an ungodly hour. Seeing as how Patrick is ice fishing in Minnesota with his father this week, the wake up call duty fell upon my shoulders. I stumbled into his room, turned on the light, shook him and made sure he was alive before scurrying back into my heated blanket cocoon. I then remembered to check my emails before he left, just to be sure that the 4+ inches of snow that fell overnight wouldn't cancel school. It didn't and he left on his own steam without any further interaction from dear old mom. Ahhh... teenagers!

7:30 am. I headed downstairs to let the dog out and grab some coffee. Sure enough, the snow was in enormous drifts and my somewhat shortish dog had to plow through several of them to find the absolute perfect spot in which to pee. I spent a good 10 minutes watching as she would bound about, looking like an antelope instead of a scraggly terrier mix. Once she finally came inside, I had to clean the snow from her hair, TWICE, as she couldn't seem to remember to do #1 AND #2 in the same excursion.

By now, it's 8:30 and the younger two are still asleep. THANK GOD. I have to check a few emails and force myself to wash the massive pile of dishes that accumulated after yesterday. (Every Tuesday, we attend a co-op for homeschooling families. My kids have tons of friends there and do science, PE, literature and geography classes. My daughter then has a 3 hour gymnastics class in the evening and all of this means that we are not home for very long on Tuesdays. Add that to the fact that I haven't had a dishwasher in 10 years and you will understand why there are so many dishes awaiting my assistance on every Wednesday morning).

9:00 am. Ok, I lied. I didn't check emails. I screwed around on the shiny, shiny internet and now my 11 year old is awake and I still haven't washed a single dish. This day may actually end up being pretty darn typical, after all...

10:15 am. Just finished all but one very stubborn pan with baked on potatoes. Gonna let that soak while the kids finish up their screen time. I did manage to trick Evan into a little science lesson when I asked him to read this website on how to measure snowfall (because my hands were wet from the dishes!). I was mainly wondering how we measure the volume of the snow instead of the inches that have fallen. I mean, the big, fluffy flakes take up more space but have less mass as a group because of the air between the crystals, right? Isn't that right? A foot of teeny, tiny, hard flakes must have more water volume than a foot of fluff. IT MUST. I need to prove this theory...someday. Right now, I am just impressed that I haven't broken up a single argument yet. Not. ONE. It must be because I am documenting our day for all of you lovely readers. Going to start another load of laundry before the kids finish their time and start on school books....

10:39 am. I spoke too soon. 8 year old is crying because her brother isn't "being nice" in her opinion and I didn't even yell. I am quite proud of myself.

10:40 am. 11 year old has gathered his school books and is settling down to do independent study. 8 year old is up in her room crying and getting dressed. I am watching the snow start to fall...again...and having another cup of reheated coffee while I contemplate life.

10:56 am. 8 year old is quietly reading her social studies book about Omaha Native Americans. It should be noted that she is still in her zebra-print footie jammies and has a very disgruntled look about her face. She is clearly upset with her lot in life.

11:51 am. 11 year old did well until he realized he had to do a creative story for his literature class. He has now rebelled and is in his room until he can work without yelling or being unreasonable. Ah, pre-teens. Good times. In better news, daughter has made her way through spelling, math and social studies. We are going to read about Benjamin Franklin for a bit, finish a lesson in her science book and then review some flashcards on multiplication facts and the States. Right after she pours herself another bowl of cereal, that is... And it's still snowing.

1:07 pm. After much hysterics, 11 year old wrote what is actually a HILARIOUS remake of Little Red Riding Hood. I mean, I am cracking up over here! He has problems keeping his hands up with his mind, so I
typed while he dictated. This usually works well with him for essays and stories and encourages him in knowing that he IS creative and smart. On that note, I have to get out of these pajama pants myself so I can drive him to GameStop to pick up a video game with his Christmas gift card. Maybe if I put on tall boots and a long coat, no one will notice?

1:54 pm. Opted to just spray on extra perfume on and declare today a grungy day, especially since I had to shovel a crapload of snow before we could even get out of the driveway. Helps that husband won't be home and I have no where to go tonight! School work is all done and 11 yr old is happy about his new game, 8 year old is doing handstands in the hallway. I have some emails for my LTYM show to check on and dinner to start. I think it's gonna be a meatloaf and mashed potatoes night!

2:45 pm. 14 year old is home from high school. Came in covered in snow and eager to make a croque madame which is a French sandwich, apparently. (He's taking a cooking class and a French class as a Freshman). I told him to knock himself out. This should be interesting.

3:45 pm. Pretty good sandwiches. Tres bien.

4:30 pm. Picked up 8 yr old's friend from across town. They're playing a board game, teen is on computer, pre-teen is playing new video game and I am gearing up to go stick my hands into a bowl of raw meat. Yum. My feet are frozen, there is a MOUNTAIN of (clean) unfolded laundry on the floor and even more snow to shovel.

6:00 pm. Damn, I make a mean meatloaf. Even managed to have a 15 minute conversation with my 14 year old about a game he really enjoys! It's difficult to get him to interact a whole lot these days, and with him out of the house every day till 2:30, we don't see nearly as much of him as I was used to. It's an adjustment, to be sure.

7:48 pm. Friend is back at her house. Kids are all playing games or reading book. Need to make sure they all get showers before bed; for the younger ones, around 10:00 or so. No set wake up time means no set bedtime. We're pretty breezy about it and it works for us. Justin still has homework but he is pretty responsible about getting it finished without any intervention, so there are no worries on my end about him. I am getting some loose ends tied up for LTYM and then I am going to get under that heated blanket as early as I can. I notice that I never did get that pan with the potatoes washed but think that it will most likely hold just fine until tomorrow morning...

And there you go. A Wednesday in our homeschool life. Not perfect but pretty decent. No nature-stuff or field trips, but what do you expect in February in Illinois? I think tomorrow will include Corinne baking banana bread and Evan designing a chart for chores. Maybe we'll throw a little Freerice.com in as a charity/learning experience and I'd like to finally get them started on the KIDSdiscover.com site. Every day is different while similar and I find that we have a pretty good rhythm going on (most days). Can't wait for the snow to knock it off so we can get downtown to one of the free days at the Field Museum and maybe Brookfield Zoo, too. We're ready for spring!

Homeschool to High School

When I'm wrong, I am not too proud to admit it.

Justin, I was wrong.

You have made me so incredibly proud, these past few months. You have taken on the responsibilities and pressures that come with attending high school, and you've taken them on with more maturity than I ever imagined. Obviously, there is always room for improvement, but I did NOT envision that you'd be taking the reins of your education this quickly.

When we started homeschooling you, I distinctly remember you declaring that you were "Never going back to school, ever again, EVER" and I took you at your word. You are, quite often, determined about your opinions, so I couldn't foresee the sudden switch that took place in 8th grade. You knew what you wanted and nobody would stop you from achieving your goal of going to high school, not even ME; that's pretty remarkable, especially for a pre-teen. I know this year has NOT been all sunshine and roses for you, with lots of surprises on what school would really be like, and we still argue at times and have wildly differing opinions on what is important/necessary/acceptable, BUT you are dedicated to your education and future in ways that make me marvel. You have become a pretty awesome teenager, with goals and plans of becoming an even more amazing man... Just writing that makes me tear up.

I don't tell you often enough, but I am PROUD of you. So is your dad. So are your grandparents. So are all of us who have watched you struggle through the years. I love you, and honestly don't care all that much about the grades you get this Finals Week because the effort you've invested is worthy of a solid A+ across the board.*

*NOTE, this does NOT give you free license to goof off. STILL STUDY.

Adjusting... quietly.

The elephant.

It's in the room.

I haven't mentioned the presence of its road-mapped skin for fear it could stampede in revolt (as elephants are known to do).

But the thing about elephants is that they are insanely difficult to ignore.

Especially when you are as tentatively optimistic as I feel right now.

So I'll whisper it, ever so softly, and perhaps the great beast will forgive my admission...

High school for my eldest is going well.

He's...succeeding.

(ducks and throws arms over head)

Academically, he's doing good, and I knew he would; my kid is incredibly intelligent and has an amazing memory. But also, he's thriving with the responsibility. He wakes without fuss, makes his lunch and leaves on time, every morning. He remembers his homework and does it all on time - EVERY day.

He has stated that his goal is to Ace every class, including P.E. So far? He's on the right track.

Most importantly, he has remained true to himself and has tried out a club, started private piano lessons* again, and still manages to walk up to bed, every night, without fail, at 10:30 - WITHOUT ANYone prompting or reminding him to.

Good God, did I just jinx myself? I am knocking on wood and tossing salt over my shoulder and doing that little "tou tou" spitty thing I see old ladies doing to ward off evil spirits (or is that what they do to put curses on people?). I am crossing my fingers AND all of my toes that he continues on this path.

And I am quietly returning to my chair in the corner and praying that my boasts remain truthful; hoping fervently that my joyful noises were hushed enough to allow that massive elephant to stay asleep...

*For about 18 months around 2nd grade, he took piano lessons and was something of a freaking musical prodigy but the issues he had back then led  to a series of events that caused us to let him walk away from piano. He came back to piano on his own this summer and is, once again, sailing through the lessons and skills.

Sometimes We Do Educational Shit

Whoever said you need a lot of money to have fun was lying. Well, there is some validity to the idea. I mean, it sure is a hell of a lot EASIER to have fun when you are whipping $50's out of your pocket instead of counting the quarters from under the couch cushions, but IT IS POSSIBLE to have a pretty swinging time without spending any cash. Even if you have kids and don't want to "have fun" by pressing your finger over the nozzle of the hose and calling it "water-park-fun-time."

Our boys were busy making a zombie movie* with some friends on Sunday so Patrick and I took Corinne to the Isle a la Cache in Romeoville for their Island Rendezvous where a bunch of historical reenactors bring the 1750's French-Indian fur trading period of Illinois back to life.

I am such a homeschooling mom: can't stop forcing history down their throats, even in Summertime.

Somehow, I don't think Corinne minded and was dancing within minutes of walking on property.

I had to drag Patrick away from the beer brew tent where they discussed, in great detail, how beer has saved humankind repeatedly. I nodded and smiled. Yes. Yes. Beer is good. All praise beer and its ability to not pass on plagues and shit. Secretly, I think our forefathers (or mothers?) knew what they hell they were doing by giving their kids a little liquor every day. Methinks slightly buzzed children would be easier to handle. "I would be happy to muck the stalls and kill the chicken, Maw! Right after I slam this brewsky!"

 Ooohhhh! Reflections!

 

 I love how every fair and carnival and party we ever go to will have a beading station. I also love how my daughter is a sucker for them Every. Damn. Time. We were just happy that there was a bench made of very inadequately matched logs that were nailed precariously together. Being risk-takers who like to live on the edge, Pat and I decided to fling our asses onto the same "bench" at the same time and WE BOTH SURVIVED.

Smiling Kid Picture!
(I swear, hubs is not scratching himself in background.)

Nature! Complete with bubbling brook and touched up greenery!

Well. That's just damn adorable in its own right. Guess who was eating up all of the attention? It's a good thing she's not an only child because that man of mine would spoil her rotten.

I was there! In a selfie! Because I love the way I look at exactly 2.5 feet away from the camera.

Even girls know that weapons are the key to survival. Also, there was an awning and it was getting toasty out. Girls especially know the value of shade.

I am only slightly disturbed by how comfortable she is with skulls and all of the dead animal skins. My children don't seem to have issues with the whole "circle of life" idea. Thank God, because I need help with dead animal removal more often than I projected when I agreed to become an adult.

The canoe and backdrop set up for photo ops was just too good to pass up. So we took one.

Or two.

Maybe I took my photo shoot a little too seriously...

And then we discovered the costumes and we had to start ALL OVER because HATS!

At this point, she said something akin to "This is going on the internet, isn't it?"

Oh, silly child.

I promise you that no coercion was required to get him into this outfit, though I will admit that I was desperately trying with all of my womanly whiles to convince him that the long white dress was actually a Frenchman's SHIRT that he was supposed to belt and wear with boots but he wised up before it was over his head when he saw the lace collar...

At first, I thought Patrick took this pic because he was interested in the book about Plainfield that I was reading...

My baby girl took this shot and I have to say it's my favorite from the entire day...

More nature! 

WHAT. IS. THIS?? We seriously want to know. It was big and weird and I've never seen one in Illinois in my thirty~cough~some years.

Falcons are cool.

Hawks are cooler!

Men who have activities like reenacting past time periods with their sons/grandsons are pretty freaking awesome, to be honest. Talk about a hobby that has a PURPOSE. Bring it on. You GO Mr. Hawk man, even though you didn't tell us that the hawk and falcon show wouldn't start for another half an hour and we sat on your hay bales for 15 minutes in the blazing sun with a 7 year old.

You still rock my world.



*When they say "we want to be out of the house without you for a while doing something creative" I don't question a good thing.**

**"Mommy, know what zombie blood tastes like? Cherry Kool-Aid!"***

***don't know why I used a double asterisk up there. Seemed like a good idea at the time and now it just seems superfluous and silly.

Like Kindergarten! Only With More Drugs and Facial Hair!

It's been one of those days, you know? Some questionable health news about our kitten which sort of makes me want to throw up with worry; a 10 year old who was more than a little bit stubborn about dividing his fractions during math and whether or not the "e" was dropped when the word "trade" became "traded"; and having to prep myself to walk into the high school for my eldest's high school orientation.

It's kind of like the first day of kindergarten. Only worse, because we've been through this whole scene before and it wasn't such a thrill the first time. I had considered keeping my reggae tam and ratty hair with tear-streaked make-up so that I could be all "WHAT?!?" to any parent or administrator who gave a sidelong glance when I said we homeschool, but I decided that this was just a wee bit immature and, perhaps, setting my son up for a poor experience. Instead, I have a moderately clean shirt on with brushed hair and fresh make up. I even reapplied deodorant.

That's going all out, folks. All. Out.

Deep Breaths are going to be required. Mock me all you want, but this is going against everything I have fallen in love with in these past 4 years of freedom. I feel like I am being forced back into a box full of windows again...

Here's a puppy and kitten love-fest picture to distract us all....

How will you observe Black History Month?

 We received 4 new books for review to add to a collection of stories I have amassed to focus on black history. A BEAUTIFUL book about Nelson Mandela, 2 poetry books revolving around the slaves that helped to build the white house and a black family's move across country in the 1940's, and then another book on Martin Luther King Jr. We don't ONLY read them during February during Black History Month, but it certainly is helpful to have a reminder to focus on a certain topic. I am thrilled with the choices that Harper Collins sent to my family. You can see Evan reading "I've Seen the Promised Land" by Walter Dean Myers during a break between his martial arts classes.

The artwork by Leonard Jenkins is edgy and inspiring. It captures your interest in not only the words but the emotions behind what is being said. Evan was absolutely silent for the entire time he read this book about MLK,Jr. It is an absolutely stunning book.

The best new addition to my family's collection though is the book titled "Nelson Mandela" written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Surprisingly enough, this is the first book our family has owned on Mr. Mandela, though we have read and talked about him in the past. Nothing is quite as compelling as the cover portrait, though. Nelson Mandela's face has always been one that I have felt drawn to. Perhaps it is the strength you can see in his eyes. Perhaps it is the fact that, despite the tragic situations his life's path has taken him through, he still seems to have a perpetual smile and kind word for anyone who would hear him.

"In the Land of Milk and Honey" by Joyce Carol Thomas and "Brick by Brick" by Charles R. Smith, Jr. are both illustrated by artist Floyd Cooper. These lovely books of poetry open up 2 new topics for my children and I to discuss with, yet again, lovely artwork to assist their imaginations.

What I love about picture books is that anyone can learn from them, whether or not they can read the words themselves. Picture books about historical figures or situations capture our attention and hold it so much longer than just reading the words alone. I hope my children enjoy these 4 new books during February as we read them alongside our many other books that incorporate black history around the world. Remember to check out your library, too! 

Like it?... or Love it?

Ever pay for gymnastics? I'm not talking about the recreational, park district classes, either. I mean the gymnastics classes that prep a kid for team competitions. classes where the gymnasts attend multiple sessions a week, for many, many hours of heavy-duty athletic activity.

If you have, then you know that those pre-team and team class paychecks leave a noticeable dent in your checkbook. And that is why, each time I pull out a pen to write Corinne's gymnastic school another check, I ask her,

"Do you like it? Or do you LOVE it?"

And every time, with her eyes shining and head bopping up and down, she earnestly responds, "Oh, I LOVE IT, Mommy! I LOVE IT!"

I was judging a speech meet today and met a man who is a producer for a television show. He judges while the show is on its winter break. I was interested and asked him about his profession,

"Tell me; do you like it? Or do you love it?"

He paused.

"I LOVE IT. It's the best job ever."

I smiled. "Then you are a lucky man, indeed."

Driving home, I wondered, do I like my job? Or do I LOVE it?

It didn't take me more than a breath to realize that I love it. I LOVE IT. I love every job I own.

Parenting? Love it.
Homeschooling? Love it.
Blogging? Love it.
Co-producing Listen To Your Mother in Chicago? Love it.

It's been a while since anything has uplifted my spirits quite as much as that realization in my van today.

Tell me; Do you like your job? Your life? Or do you LOVE it?

Before It Changes Again...

"Mama, Look! Ooh Ooh! Look at this! Over here - LOOK at this piece of jade! And these coins are from... 330 BC!! Oh - Wait- LOOK at this! The dinosaur is eating the other one. THAT is SO GROSS! And so... COOL!!"

And on.

And on.

Followed up by brief glimpses of my teenager* (sob) wandering ahead of us with his friend as we meandered through the Field Museum with Steph and her boys on a homeschooling field trip...

Have I mentioned lately how grateful I am to be honored with the privilege of homeschooling my children? Because I am. I feel as though we are really, truly comfortable with the routine and rhythm that this lifestyle allows. Naturally, this graceful rhythm is preceding and enormous adjustment as my eldest is determined to attend Public high school next fall... bringing about alarm clocks and homework and headaches and heartache...

Sigh... Change; it's the only constant in Life, isn't it?

And so, it's on and on and change and change and I adjust and settle again and again, only to be disrupted and adjusted once more...

Still. For right now, at this VERY moment? I am content with the status quo. I am comfortable and will shout to the world that I am GRATEFUL and acknowledge that this stage is temporary.

So I intend on soaking up every blessed second of it.

*BABY. He's my BABY. No matter how hairy his legs may be.

A glimpse...

 I was chopping carrots and cucumbers for a salad the other day and asked the kids if they wanted a few slices. Their eyes bugged out when they saw the cucumber slices. My children have a love/hate relationship with cukes. They love 'em. Then they hate 'em. Apparently, we were on a "love" cycle so I doled out several slices and continued with salad preparations, convinced that I was a fabulous mother whose children ate VEGETABLES for SNACKS.

Grabbing the raspberry vinaigrette and a bowl, I turned to sit at the kitchen table and saw this:

 What? Where did they learn this?

 Also, what is all over her mouth? Chocolate pudding?
FAIL on the healthy eating, after all...

  Truth be told, they DID eat the cucumbers (and carrots!) once they were done with their "spa day". And Evan said the cucumbers made reciting his spelling words much easier to concentrate...

 Just for kicks, I decided to include a few more weird pics of what homeschooling looks like in our house. Corinne not only continued her study of the Iroquois beading project we were doing in co-op, but also did so with a... headdress?

Their block city. Complete with cell towers and exotic zoo and security cameras and recycling facility...

BONUS is the glimpse of ME in the background. You lucky, lucky ducks.