Weekly Preview and Review

SOCCER IS OVER FOR 2011!

David's robotics meetings for November and December are all on Wednesday nights. That's kind of a bummer as it means he will miss church.

We have two more weeks before karate testing and we are working hard on perfecting our forms, actions, and sparring techniques.

10/30 Sunday - Church, relaxing
Monday - Work 5, Lessons, Karate, Trick-or-treating
Tuesday - Work 5, Lessons, NANOWRIMO begins!
Wednesday - Work 5, Lessons, Art class (E,J,S) Church, Robotics (D)
Thursday - Work 5, Lessons, Karate, Wordsmith class
Friday - WORK 5?, Co-op (picture day), Missionettes Sleepover (E,S)
Saturday -
Sunday - Church, relaxing

A month of writing awaits all of us....

Weekly Preview and Review

Friday saw the end of David's 3rd varsity soccer season on a COLD sunless evening. They lost too, which was disappointing. Two of the more experienced players were injured; one was injured Tuesday (kicked in the knee) and one has been out most of the season (had knee surgery due to an injury in a game). Our usual goalkeeper was inexplicably absent as well. So, they struggled. But it was a good season. I am glad David is part of this team.

Suzy played this morning; Bob took her to the game. They also lost, but she reportedly played well. Ran into one of the opponent's mothers this morning and she was complimentary to Suzy's soccer skills. Her son was on Suzy's team previously.

We had an enormous amount of rain this week - BLECH. I was so glad to see the sun when I got up today!

The karate school hosted Halloween parties this weekend - Suzy went to one of them. She is a pirate this year. The dojang (karate school) was completely decorated and looked awesome. She said she had a fun time. (We dropped her off!)

David finished Segment 2 of drivers ed. Now he just has to rack up a few more hours and pass the test. He also needs to start making some money to pay for car insurance. And a vehicle too, I imagine!

Co-op on Friday was rewarding! The kids love their classes. I am co-teaching British Literature and that's really fun, actually!

10/23 Sunday - Church, relaxing
Monday - Work 5, Lessons, Karate
Tuesday - Work 5, Lessons, Practice (S?), Robotics (D)
Wednesday - Work 5, Lessons, Church,
Thursday - Work 5, Lessons, Soccer Game (J), Karate, Wordsmith class
Friday - WORK 5?, Lessons, Practice (S?)
Saturday - Last Soccer Games (S,J), Book Club
Sunday - Church, relaxing

FUNDRAISING!!! Got money? lol
David is raising money for his robotics team. He is doing a bottle drive in a couple days. He also will probably be doing some computer work (for robotics money and for car insurance).

Suzy and James are selling cookie dough for their Wednesday night programs (Missionettes and Royal Rangers). So if you'd like any, they have a huge variety of flavors and a few other things available as well - all for $10 each. Suzy and her friend went and asked a few neighbors today and sold 3!

Weekly Preview and Review

10/16 Sunday - Church, relaxing
Monday - Work 5, Lessons, Karate, David drivers ed
Tuesday - Work 5, Lessons, Practice (S,J), Soccer Game (D-away)
Wednesday - Work 5, Lessons, Church, Robotics (D)
Thursday - Work 5, Lessons, Soccer practice (J), Karate, Wordsmith class
Friday - WORK 5?, Co-op, Halloween Party (S), Soccer Game (D-home LAST ONE)
Saturday - Soccer Game (S), Harvest Hoopla
Sunday - Church, relaxing

Whew, life is busy. Soccer season has 2 more weeks. David will be done this Friday. James and Suzy both have their last games on the 28th. I am thinking about taking both of them out of AYSO and putting them into more competitive teams. If the team David plays for has a junior high team next year, James will play for them in the fall. If he stayed in AYSO, he'd play U14 and that's travel soccer anyway, so all his options would be travel. I don't know of anything nearby for U14 level that only plays locally.

But Suzy isn't old enough for that, so I've talked to her current coach about the situation. She has a daughter a year older than Suzy; she was on the team I coached for Suzy a couple years ago. Now that girl plays for a competitive team based in Lapeer. I may sign Suzy up for that league. The main drawbacks? It's a travel team and it's expensive. I said no to a similar opportunity for David when he was 9 and didn't really regret it. But the local AYSO was bigger when David was 9 and there were more skilled players. Suzy is quite good and I'd like to see her improve and I'd also like her to play for a girls-only team at the U12 level.

Hmmm.... what to do?

David is finishing Segment 2 of drivers ed this week. Then he has to make sure he has all his hours and he can go take the test. He is also committed once a week to Robotics through the end of the year. In January and February, it is more of an everyday commitment! That high school has a pool open to the public so once a week, I'll probably take the other kids swimming. And I'm thinking about teaching a writing class one of those nights. Wonder if I can get a room in the high school?

Our karate testing is less than a month away. We will test for orange stripe.

Last week was a hard one.  Uncooperative kids, moody mama = bad week. Glad that's over.

Enjoyed taking David to his soccer game in Saginaw on Friday, despite the chilly wet weather. Good company on the sidelines and then out for Mexican afterwards with a bunch of friends, while the 6 teens sat on the other side of the room!

James played well in his game on Saturday, though the game was downgraded to a "scrimmage" since the other team only had 6 players show up. Our team lent them a player and they recruited a couple siblings to play, including Suzy. She was not intimidated by the bigger kids (some more than 2 years older) or the bigger field. She just got right out there and played hard! James made two goals, one from way back, almost to the center line. Suzy had a game on Tuesday and she also made a goal.

Last weekend James and Bob went on a campout for Royal Rangers. It wasn't very far away, on the property of a church member. They had a great time and the weather was warm, though rather chilly at night. They even went swimming in the pond. (Well, James did.) While the boys were gone, I stayed at a friend's house with the girls. Her guys were also at the campout. We had a relaxing movie/chatting weekend. Such fun! We also walked 4 miles -the first exercise I've done in more than a month, other than karate. David spent one night with a friend that weekend, and the other night at home alone - the first time he's done that.

Also met with a local school superintendent, along with a couple other homeschool moms, to explore possibilities of homeschool-public school partnerships. Interesting meeting. This guy started in June and has lots of exciting thoughts and plans. We shall see what pans out from that.

Weekly Review and Preview

10/9 Sunday - Church, relaxing
Monday - Work 5, Lessons, Karate, David drivers ed, Practice D
Tuesday - Work 5, Lessons, Practice (S,J), Robotics D
Wednesday - Work 5, Lessons, Church, David drivers ed
Thursday - Work 5, Lessons, Soccer practice J, Karate, Wordsmith class
Friday - WORK 5?, Lessons, Soccer Practice (S), Soccer Game (D-away)
Saturday - Soccer Game (J)
Sunday - Church, relaxing

Weekly Review and Preview

So, two soccer games for Suzy and one each for David and James netted 2 wins. Suzy made two goals and David played forward briefly during his game. The weather for Saturday's games was bitterly cold and windy. I sat in the van with a friend to watch Suzy's game, but did brave the cold for James' earlier game.

Bob brought home a Super Nintendo (Super NES) from the thrift store. He paid $12 for it. Can you believe this system is now 20 years old?! How can THAT be? Anyway, the boys had been asking for it, because they wanted to play MARIO. Never mind that you can play it online for free nowadays. They wanted it OLD SCHOOL. And they've been enjoying it! James is going to sell his PS2 and huge collection of games. Any takers?


We've been taking the kids to a big church in Burton for Wednesday night programs. David and Emily participate in youth group and this past week they went out on a service project. I believe theirs was cleaning up a local park and then the leader took them to Tim Horton's. James is doing Royal Rangers; he is an Adventure Ranger. He really likes it. Suzy is doing Missionettes and comes home all excited about reading the Bible and memorizing her verse. I usually hang out with a friend or run errands during church.

Sunday church is a bit more uncertain. We don't go often. When we do go, it's to a local Vineyard church, but it doesn't feel "right" if that makes sense.

My writing class is going well; I am getting positive feedback from parents. (and some students even!) The money from this first semester of class is going to pay for Christmas. YAY!

Bob and I both had a change of supervisors at work in the last couple weeks. His means a bit more of a change than mine; different supervisors at the store do the schedules and assignments differently. My job will likely remain exactly the same.

My birthday was low-key. Thanks to Aunt Cynthia, I realized that I am halfway to 90. LOL

Karate is going well. We are learning the more complicated orange belt form as well as the basic actions (strikes and blocks). PKSA is hosting a tournament nearby us on the 8th but we have decided we cannot participate at this time - partly due to the date, partly due to the cost, and partly because we just don't all feel confident.

David is all signed up to participate in the FIRST Robotics league with a local high school's team. This is something I've wanted for him to be able to do for a couple years now, so I'm thrilled he can be a part of it. He is pretty psyched about it also.

Here is the upcoming week's schedule:
10/2 Sunday - Church, relaxing
Monday - Work 5, Lessons, Karate
Tuesday - Work 5, Lessons, Practice (S,J) Soccer GAME (D-away),
Wednesday - Work 5, Lessons, Art Class (S,J,E), Church, David - Robotics?
Thursday - Field trip to see Twelfth Night, Soccer Game (J,S), Karate (J,S)
Friday - WORK 5, Co-op, Soccer Practice (S), Soccer Game (D-home), RR Campout (J,B)
Saturday - Campout (J,B), Girls Fun Weekend (L,S,E)
Sunday -Church, relaxing, RR Campout (J,B)

Emily needs some kind of activity. Any ideas?