Lisa's Logbook - March 27

Well, six months of preparation and planning culminated in our whirlwind trip to South Bend, Indiana for the Regency Ball. Our group consisted of a six-vehicle caravan containing 2 men, 7 women, 5 teenage boys, and 13 teenage girls. (if my counting is correct....) I'll post more about it on Cornerstone, but clearly that has been a huge focus for me of late!

We also had a movie day and hairdo party last week; we watched Persuasion, our last of the six Austen novels. The hairstyling was a blast! And the following day, many of us gathered for a professional portrait session. I should have the link to those photos this week.

We started Karate (Tang Soo Do) last week, taking advantage of an introductory special at a studio in Lapeer which included 3 short intro classes and the uniform. All of us are participating except Bob and it seems that we are all going to like it, even those of us who had a bad attitude about their mom signing them up. Our schedule will be twice a week on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Sister Weekend was a blast as always, although we seemed a little more low-key than some years. That's good, though; sometimes we just need to take things slow. I was thrilled to learn how to crochet and now I need to practice so I don't forget how.

The big snowstorm we had sort of took us by surprise Tuesday night and Wednesday. We must have gotten six inches of very wet heavy snow which was followed by freezing rain (so everything was ice coated). We didn't lose power, though some around here did. Our internet (cable) was down for most of Wednesday morning. From the traveling we did this weekend, it looks as though the snow was limited to our part of the state. By Lansing, there was no snow at all. How about you GR people?

I did sneak out Wednesday night with friends to see Limitless with Bradley Cooper. He's one of my favorite actors lately and I'd been looking forward to seeing this, though I had only the most basic idea of what it was even about. The Adjustment Bureau was a better movie in the same vein, though Limitless was more visually appealing (and not only because of the actor! lol). Lots of stunning CGI shots.

Other than co-op and the End-of-the-year Program, this week is a quiet one for us. Soccer hasn't started yet (we still have snow on the ground!) and the Regency Ball is past. I will try to get my work hours in by Thursday night so I don't have to worry about working on Friday before and after the co-op events.

Bob is busily looking for a car on craigslist. We are hoping to get a larger vehicle for me to drive and then give my van to him, I think. Having 3 children who are as big as adults makes it hard to fit everyone in my van comfortably - not much leg room.

I came back from the ball with a slight head cold - headache and stuffy nose. Of course, I didn't have any vitamin C along with me. But I hope to nip that in the bud.
Sunday - Relax
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Karate
Tuesday - WORK 5
Wednesday - WORK 5
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate?
Friday - Co-op, End-of-the-year Program
Saturday - NO PLANS!!!
Sunday - Relax!

Can you believe by the end of this week it will be APRIL????

Weekly Preview and Review

I've got the costumes for the Regency Ball just about done - have to mend a seam and starch a cravat.

Gymnastics is over for us. We are starting homeschool karate and soccer will be starting soon. Will probably try to do gymnastics again in the fall after soccer ends.

Only 1 more homeschool co-op before summer! I can't believe it's almost done.

We haven't made ANY of the free movie nights in Imlay City, nor any of the free weekend matinees yet. Maybe we can do some yet this spring. There is a free Veggie Tale premiere this week; I'd like to take the little ones to that.

We are having spring break this week - a little earlier than I would like, but since I am trying to do 5 days of work in 4 and there are several other commitments, this is best.

Bob changed his work schedule around so he has Friday off instead of a different day. That way I don't need anyone to help with the kids while the big kids and I are gone this weekend.

Sunday - Sister Weekend ends, Bday party (S)
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Karate, Movie Day, Hairstyle party
Tuesday - WORK 5, Portrait session, Soccer meeting
Wednesday - WORK 5, Free Veggie Tales Movie Night
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate
Friday - Regency Ball trip
Saturday - Regency Ball trip
Sunday - Relax!

Weekly Preview and Review

Something planned every single day makes for a very busy week! And that's what we just finished.

Suzy had her cavities filled and the boys had good reports from the dentist.

We had fun at homeschool skating, and the turnout was about TWICE what it was last month. There is one more in April.

The field trip was to the Detroit newspaper printing facility and it was rather interesting. I wish they'd actually been PRINTING the paper though.

We wanted to see Jane Eyre at our book club night, but the movie was only released in LA and NYC. So we saw The Adjustment Bureau instead - good movie - and then went out to eat. Yummy!

I worked 4 extra hours, though my goal was 5.

I spent quite a bit of Saturday sewing with my friend Darlene. Got a lot accomplished and when my 'new' sewing machine messed up, I (finally) figured out what was wrong with it.

I am really really ready for spring. I mean, REALLY.

Sunday - Sewing, Pick up S
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, Gymnastics
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Movie Night?
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons, Dance Class
Friday - WORK 4, Co-op, SISTER WEEKEND!
Saturday - SISTER WEEKEND!
Sunday - SISTER WEEKEND!, Bday party (S)

We plan to start karate next month. We will probably skip the last session of gymnastics since karate is the same day. I think we'll do karate in April, but maybe skip May because of soccer.

I need to focus on the soccer registration preparation now that the yearbook is done.

And did I mention? I am READY FOR SPRING!

Emily's Party Two

 
 
 
 

Emily's Party

Suzy made this cake.


The bowling alley gave Emily a bowling pin for all her guests to sign.
These bracelets were our craft.

Weekly Preview and Review

Cirque Shanghai was FABULOUS! Suzy and I were amazed. Chinese acrobats - 10 young men and 6 young women skillfully entertained us with feats of balance, strength and beauty. Afterwards we went to Cici's Pizza Buffet, which I like very much. First time we went, but not the last!

Dental visits for the girls this week. Emily - no cavities. Suzy - two cavities. Hmmm.... The boys have their turn this coming week.

David finished his drivers ed makeup classes and passed both the tests in class. Now we visit the Secretary of State. He first needs to connect with his teacher and get his certificate.

Took Emily and some friends bowling today to celebrate her birthday. Had the party room at the bowling alley beforehand for cake, ice cream, gifts, and a craft. Then two games of bowling with 7 girls. I bowled too. One strike, lots of gutter balls for me. No gutter balls for the girls because they all used the bumpers. lol

After the party, Suzy, Emily, and I went out to eat and then shopping for Regency Ball shoes and then to the thrift store. Then a white-knuckle ride home in the blowing snow and on the untreated roads. Man, that was awful. The blowing stuff kept freezing on my windshield and I could not see.

I've been working hard on getting the yearbook done for Seeds of Faith and it's just about finished. Hopefully we can get it delivered before the next co-op. I want to get it ordered tomorrow.

Thinking about signing up for homeschool karate. We are about done with gymnastics, I think. Just this month left. But we are gearing up for soccer which should begin mid-April and run through the beginning of June. Do I want to do karate too? Well, since I can participate in the karate for free, I think maybe so. They are having a signup special, so I probably will take advantage of that.

A little lingering cough and wheezing is all that's left of my illness. The kids too are doing tons better. Only James seems to have a lingering cough.

On Monday, there wasn't enough work loaded, so I spent some time typing in some books I had set aside for sale. And I sold about $90 worth. So that was time well spent.

I finished reading Persuasion for my Austentatious class. Loved it this time through. Funny how the Austen grows on me. I disliked reading my first Austen a lot; it was Emma. I've since read it twice more and now I love it. Book club is reading another Gaskell - Wives and Daughters. I've started but I am still in chapter 1.

Sunday - Church?
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, SOF meeting
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Homeschool rollerskating
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Dentist-D,J,S
Thursday - WORK 5 Lessons, Mammogram-L (funfun)
Friday - WORK 5, field trip
Saturday - Book Club Movie Night (Jane Eyre)
Sunday - Church, Contra Dancing!

Gotta work 5's this week to make up for 2 weeks ago when there wasn't enough work to keep me busy. And this is a busy week with something every day! Better take a deep breath on Sunday night. (And maybe start with a little extra sleep, eh?)

I also need to get moving on the soccer registration plans. It'll be here before we know it. Oh, and SOF co-op stuff for NEXT year already too. And make sure everything is in order for the Regency Ball.

Quite a few Regency Ball-related activities are on the calendar for March.
March 13 - Contra dance at Flint school
March 17 - Dance practice
March 21 - Persuasion Movie Day & Regency Hairstyle Practice (girls)
March 22 - Regency Portrait Day (wear your costume and do your hair!)
March 25-26 Regency Ball trip!

So, you can see, there's a lot involved. David and Emily and I will be attending, along with about 20 other people from our homeschool group. And it's in South Bend, so we're spending the night.

We'd love to see any of you at our co-op program on Friday, April 1st in the evening. David will be sharing a computer script he wrote. Emily will be dancing and in a skit. Suzy is doing a cheerleading routine. And James will have a very nice art exhibit. There will be other stuff too, but I'm not sure what all. And you won't want to miss my Austentatious class; they are doing Pride and Prejudice in 100 seconds. I get to play Lydia. LOL