Sunday - Just relax
Monday - WORK 5, Karate, Soccer VBS (S,J), Soccer Camp (D)
Tuesday - WORK?,  Soccer VBS (S,J), Co-op Registration Day, Soccer Camp (D)
Wednesday - WORK 5, Soccer VBS (S,J), Massage (L)
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate,  Soccer VBS (S,J), Soccer Camp (D)
Friday - WORK 5,  Soccer VBS (S,J), Soccer Camp (D)
Saturday - Book Club (Shakespeare in the Park!)
Sunday -

James had a good time at his nature camp. He liked the canoes the best. The class was small and he knew several kids from co-op and soccer. He reconnected with a boy that was in Spanish class and they'd like to get together sometime.

James and Suzy wanted to go to VBS this week at the church we sometimes attend and it turned out to be a very nice VBS, although very small. So they were there 3 hours each night. Suzy missed the last night because she was invited to spend the night with a friend.

David and I went on Saturday afternoon with friends to see Captain America -a GREAT movie! We went out to dinner afterwards and had a nice time.

Karate on Monday was "ninja training" - kind of a fun day instead of training. But Thursday, headquarters canceled classes due to the Excessive Heat Warning. So we only had karate one time. We skipped the karate picnic in favor of getting some things done around the house. It's not often we have a Saturday free and so we completed some long overdue chores. We need to work hard through the next month to get ready for testing at the end of August.

This week brings more VBS for James and Suzy. It's the annual Soccer Camp/VBS that we have done for a few years now. David also has soccer camp 4 nights this week - it's soccer conditioning and not so much fun, really; so keep him in your prayers as it's going to be very hot and probably humid.

Our homeschool co-op registration is Tuesday - a full day for me as I will be there the whole time working. It's nice to see all our friends from co-op, many of whom we don't see during the summer. Plus we get to meet the new families and see what classes everyone is choosing.

And Wednesday - I get my first massage ever! There's a massage school in Lapeer and they charge just $10! Bob has been there twice.

I completed week 5 of my 10K training, though the heat meant I didn't do as much exercise as I intended. I did my first full 4 mile run though with a few bits of walking. I'm getting there! I picked a 10K the first weekend of October, so I am on track with training and I will probably give myself another week or two of repeats so I am ready at the right time.

We're considering a trip to Lake Michigan - will it be camping or a hotel? Or will we decide on Lake Huron instead? Or Mackinac? Gotta nail that down here soon. We have one free weekend before the end of summer. It actually wasn't free, but I un-committed myself from something I didn't really need to do and made it free. So we will travel SOMEPLACE that weekend!

Weekly Preview and Review

Sunday - Movie Night
Monday - WORK 5, Karate, VBS (S,J), Soccer Meeting
Tuesday - WORK 5, Nature Camp (J), VBS (S,J), Beach Day
Wednesday - WORK 5, Nature Camp (J), VBS (S,J)
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate, Nature Camp (J), VBS (S,J)
Friday - WORK 5?, Nature Camp (J), VBS (S,J)
Saturday - Karate Picnic
Sunday -

David had a BLAST at his Defense and Tactics camp - lots of paintball, crawling through the woods, and sitting by the fire. He wants to go again next year!

Suzy enjoyed her Nature Center day camp last week and James is going this week. David and James had soccer camp which was a lot of drilling and scrimmage. Emily had a great time with her grandparents and Aunt Janet. She got to see Cars 2 which she has been waiting three years to see!

My scrapbooking weekend was wonderful, as always. Maryann was a gracious hostess and I got a TON of work done on my digital scrapbook.

I am doing terrible at returning library books lately. The kids are the worst offenders. I should just STOP borrowing things from libraries for a while.

Getting overwhelmed with soccer stuff. Gotta get those teams made and get the new website up. THEN I can relax and start training my replacement so I can be DONE with it all.

I am way behind on blogging too, so I just need to PUBLISH this and move forward!

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Cousin Camp Ends, Relax
Monday - WORK 5, Karate, Soccer Camp (D,J)
Tuesday - WORK 5, Soccer Camp (D,J), Leadership Mtg (L), Nature Camp (S)
Wednesday - WORK 5, kickboxing?, church, pick Emily up, Nature Camp (S)
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate, Soccer Camp (D,J), Nature Camp (S), Book Sale
Friday - WORK 5?, Scrapbooking, Martial Arts Camp (D), Nature Camp (S)
Saturday - Scrapbooking, Martial Arts Camp (D), Massage (B)
Sunday - Martial Arts Camp (D)

Hectic week ahead! Emily is at her grandparents for a few days. I have soccer teams to finish making and rosters to print. I will be selling curriculum at a book sale on Thursday. I will miss karate for that.

Suzy has field school at the nature center.
David and James have soccer camp 3 nights. (They will miss the 4th night.)
David has a martial arts tactics camp this weekend with his friend. They will be "roughing it".
I get to go scrapbooking this weekend.
I will do my regular 20 hours of work. Maybe add 5 hours?

I will get through it! And it will be FUN!

Camping Pix and Fireworks

Pictures from our camping trip and fireworks

Weekly Preview and Review

Sunday - Relax, Camping
Monday - Camping, Breaking Camp, Fireworks
Tuesday - WORK 5, Kids sleeping in (but not Mom), Karate
Wednesday - WORK 5, kickboxing, church
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate
Friday - WORK5 , Beach Day
Saturday - Cousin Camp
Sunday - Cousin Camp

Return of the King in the theater was BEYOND awesome. I didn't even move from my seat once. It's a four hour movie, so that's sayin' somethin'! Just amazing!

Camping also was BEYOND awesome! lol  We camped with two families we like to spend time with and Maryann's family came to visit every day since they live very close to the campground. We had a nice shady spot to park the camper. The weather was PERFECTION for 3 days. Saturday was record-breaking heat and a hailstorm, but we had fun anyway! There was lots to do and the kids all had friends to play with. Bob had to work Monday, so he went home Sunday night and David and I packed up the camper. I towed it myself - never towed a trailer before this weekend! We want to camp here again, as well as camp again with our friends.

Last week's Beach Day was weird weather - very windy and getting colder as the day went on. There was a still a good turnout though. Hopefully, this week's Beach Day will be more agreeable weather-wise.

In karate last week, we worked on knife-fighting and disarming someone with a gun.

We went to the fireworks in Lapeer tonight, which we haven't done in a while. My friend told me where to go to park and watch and it was great! There was live music beforehand and a free bounce house. We played games and hung out beforehand as well as afterward, waiting for the huge traffic jam to disperse. Got home about 11:45pm. They get to sleep in tomorrow! But not me.....

I didn't work on July 4th, though I probably could have. Just needed a holiday! Will work 5 hours the rest of the days this week in order to make my regular hours.

Looking forward to Cousin Camp!

July is the Busiest Month...

So, we're camping this weekend - first trip of the year for us and camping with friends! YaY!

And today is the end of June, so I am looking ahead to July and I am a teensy bit overwhelmed!

So, we will spend the first 4 days of July camping. Which meant I spent the last day of June preparing for it and I'll spend several days cleaning up from it! And then cap it off with a Beach Day.

What else do we have in store? Oh, you just wait.  Keep in mind, of course, that I work 4-5 hours every day. We have our regular twice-a-week commitment to karate. I am trying to work out 6 days a week. This is usually enough to fill my days.

But no! There's more!

The second weekend of July is more camping - Cousin Camp, which sounds SO FUN!

The second week of July brings soccer camp for the boys - 4 evenings that week. Suzy is doing Field School at the nature center that week Tues-Fri from 9-2. I am selling books in a used book sale that Thursday, which means I have to drive down to drop the books OFF on Wed. David is going to a martials arts tactics camp that weekend and I am going scrapbooking.

That throws us wildly into the third week of July. This week is James' turn at the Nature Center Tues-Fri from 9-3. He'll miss Beach Day that week. James and Suzy want to go to a VBS in the evenings this week. That weekend is blessedly FREE ... for now.

So I get a little breather before jumping into the fourth week of the month, which holds four more nights soccer camp for David and James, a soccer VBS at night for Suzy, CO-OP registration (which somewhere in there I have to help prepare for and spend a day working at). I get a $10 massage this week too, which I have a feeling I am going to really NEED!

The month ends pleasantly with a Book Club trip to see Shakespeare in the Park and go out for GELATO. And I already read the book!

By the end of July I will be running 5 miles easily, according to my training plan. 

Whew! Thankfully, August isn't so busy!

And did you notice? Emily has NOTHING TO DO! Anyone want to occupy Emily?

Weekly Preview and Review

Two Towers in the theater was GREAT! Can't wait for Return of the King this coming Tuesday! After the movie, we stayed at Maryann's again that night and then spent all of Wednesday at her house. Wednesday night both she and I took our kids to church at the church David likes that's far from our house.

On the way home, we saw GORGEOUS bright rainbows. Amazing! The kids were enthralled, even the apathetic teen!

This was kind of a quiet week.

I did get in all my workouts - Sun: 2 mile run, Mon: karate, Tues: 2 mile run, Wed: rest day (unplanned), Thur: light workout at karate & 2 mile run; Fri: intervals class (40 min cardio, 20 min abs), Sat: rest day. After my run on Sunday, I will have 2 weeks of my 10K training plan completed.

I've been looking into getting my master's degree. Not for any real reason. I just miss going to school. It's kind of expensive and I missed the June 1 deadline for scholarships, so I probably won't apply until next spring. If I want Library Science, Wayne State is really the only option. Really I am thinking more of Literature and/or Composition. With a MA, I could teach at the college level. It may come to nothing, or maybe next year, I'll be back in college. What I really need to find out is if any of the 20 hours I already did at the graduate level would still count. That was back in 1991-92, so probably not, but I need to find out.

We are camping with friends this coming weekend at a new campground. It's near Maryann's house, so she'll come hang out with us, I think. Gotta consider how to fit in the workouts while I am camping. Can't take the time off or I will lose my momentum. We did buy the popup that we borrowed last year (can't remember if I mentioned that or not), so we do have a camper.

Sunday - Relax, Church,
Monday - WORK5, Karate, AYSO meeting
Tuesday - WORK 5, Beach Day, Lord of the Rings in the theater
Wednesday - WORK 5, kickboxing, church
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate
Friday - WORK? , Camping
Saturday - Camping
Sunday -Camping
Monday - Camping

Weekly Preview and Review

So, last week was more relaxing than my spring weeks. That's so nice!

Seeing Fellowship of the Ring in the theater again was thrilling! Maryann and James and I went together. There were only about 30 people in the theater. Can Flint really have only 30 dedicated LOTR fans? Seems like too few. Anyway, every touching moment still makes me tear up, every funny moment still makes me laugh, every LOTR fan moment still makes me squirm with delight! Wonderful! Can't wait for this Tuesday to see Two Towers!

Beach Day last Thursday was switched to Park Day since we have not really had a good weather Park Day yet this spring. It really would have been warm enough for the lake, but Park Day was very nice. The kids had a great time and the weather was perfect! We went to a park they're always asking to visit but we never seem to have time for.

Bob and I have been married 23 years now. I meant to dig out the VHS of our wedding and show it to the kids. Maybe we will do that today since I forgot that until just now.

I went to kickboxing with a friend on Wednesday morning. I haven't been to class for a long while though I have done some Tae-bo in my living room. OMG my hamstrings have been killing me all week. They still hurt TODAY 4 days later! What an awesome workout. Gonna try to go once a week.

Completed Week 1 of the 10K training which meant three runs (2 miles each) and 3 cross training days (karate 2x, kickboxing 1x, and I also did a 3 mile walk.) Trying to drag some friends into the 10K thing with me. It's easier with people!

Pay period ended on Friday. Can't wait for the paycheck! Once a month paydays are greatly anticipated!

I actually weeded the back garden beds yesterday with the girls. I almost never do gardening. We planted some seed mix we got at the dollar store. We'll see if it does anything. Bob took the boys over to our vegetable garden plot at a church a couple miles down the road to weed and water.

Went to a few garage sales Saturday - got a couple shirts, a cute wooden box, and some origami paper. Something else too, but I can't think of it. Suzy bought some Polly Pockets and Emily bought a Jonas Brothers CD. lol James got some hot wheels cars out of a free box. Suzy needs some shorts, but I have yet to find a garage sale with her size clothes!

David spent one night at Alex's house and one night at Brandon's. And he got to go to youth group at Faith Tab, which he loves. So, a good week for him too!

I finally got all the soccer registrations entered into the computer. There are fewer this year - not quite 300. But it still takes a long time. Now I need to make the teams. But that can wait a couple weeks, I think.

The upcoming week looks a lot like last week! I signed Suzy up for a VBS this week, but I don't know if she'll actually be going.


Sunday - Relax, Church, Father's Day
Monday - WORK5, Karate
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lord of the Rings in the theater
Wednesday - WORK 5, kickboxing, church
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate
Friday - WORK 5
Saturday - Book Club!
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Weekly Preview and Review

Well, I skipped a week and I didn't even realize it!

Soccer is over! The last games were June 4th. I am still working on processing the soccer registrations for next year. Then I will make the teams. I have an assistant this year that will handle the uniform orders - whew! This is my last year as Registrar, so as the year goes on, I will teach my assistant how to do the registrar tasks and then hand it over to him when he's ready. I am really thrilled to be finishing up with that. I actually do like the registration stuff, but I am already on the computer 5 hours every day and adding those tasks, which are mostly computer-related, is just too much. 

Last week I was quite sick on Sunday and Monday and still recovering on Tuesday and Wednesday. Emily was sick before me and David, after me. The others didn't get it - thank God!

Tuesday I went with a friend to a homeschool used curriculum sale and then out for lunch. Got a few things that will be useful, most importantly Suzy's new math.

Belt Promotion happened Wednesday night - it was SO HOT that day! We had no idea what to expect, but it was very cool. Several of the red and black belt students gave demonstrations, including our instructor, and those were very cool. Then there was a quiz time for prizes and then finally the belt promotions. Our group (the beginners) went first and the instructors tied our new belts on us and then presented us to the audience. Then we watched the other classes get their belts. Very inspiring! Someday, we'll invite you all to see us get our black belts! :-) It takes about 3 months to progress to each level. We moved from 10th to 9th "gup" (level), so it will be a while.

Friday was supposed to be Park Day, but once again the weather was uncooperative. After Park Day, I had scheduled Suzy's party at the mini-golf place, thinking it would be easier for the moms since they'd already be out. But then I was in a dilemma. The weather wasn't so great for mini-golf either! But we pressed on and the party turned out wonderfully! I put up some pix on Cornerstone and if you care to see the whole slew of pix, you can email me for the link. I think this was the easiest party! I brought a cake, but other than that, all we had to do was show up and pay! And it was a fair price which included hot dog, chips, pop, and ice cream.

Maryann's son's graduation open house was Saturday and we stayed for the whole thing, then headed over to their house for the "after party". James stayed home with Bob but the rest of us spent the night and most of Sunday just hanging out. Alex (Maryann's son) will be going to Aquinas in the fall and David will miss him terribly.

This week our karate class starts the summer schedule, which moves it later in the afternoon. (3pm instead of 1:30) We do plan to continue through the summer.

Sunday - Relax
Monday - WORK5, Karate
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lord of the Rings in the theater
Wednesday - WORK 5, kickboxing
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate
Friday - WORK 5, Beach Day
Saturday - Our Anniversary
Sunday - Relax!, Church, Father's Day

I actually looked at the week ahead on my kitchen calendar and wondered if I forgot to write anything on there. It looks so empty! LOL  Nope, it's a nice empty week. PLEASANT CHANGE!

Maryann and I are going to see Lord of the Rings in the theater this week (and probably the next two Tuesdays as well). I think I'll be taking James along. He has been asking and asking to see the movies.

We are picking up our "new" camper this week. It's the one we borrowed last summer. The family isn't going to use it anymore and offered to sell it to us at a good price. So, even though we really wanted to move up to a larger camper, this is what God is offering to us. So, we're taking it! And so once again, we'll have a camper. And our "new" van has a hitch, so we're all set there.

Since we will have the new camper, we may go camping this weekend. I had considered it, but the weather looked like it wouldn't be great camping weather. Now, however, the forecast looks more promising, so maybe we'll do it.

10K training will commence this week. I will run on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. So, there. :-)
(Karate is Mondays and Thursdays and I will try for kickboxing on Wednesdays.) That gives me Saturdays off (or as a make up day, I guess).

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Relax, Feast of the Ste. Claire (re-enactment/encampment), Stand Strength team
Monday - WORK?, Memorial Day 5K, Family Fun day at a local camp
Tuesday - WORK 5, Soccer Practice (E,J,S)
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Soccer Game (E), Art class
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons, Karate Class, Essay Class
Friday - WORK 5,
Saturday -  Soccer Games (S,E,J-2), Historical Writing Workshop
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Relax, Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, Karate
Tuesday - WORK 5, Soccer Game (J), Soccer Practice (E,S)
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Soccer Game (E), Bob's 50th Birthday!
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons, Karate Class, Belt Testing
Friday - WORK 5?,  Park Day
Saturday - Book Club
Sunday - Relax!, Church
Monday - Memorial Day, 5K

Weekly Preview and Review

Whew, that week blew past!
Mother's Day - didn't go to church. Suzy brought me "breakfast in recliner" since I got up before everyone else. LOL I got a Kindle!

Soccer - Registration was Monday night indoors for 2 hours and Saturday morning for 4 hours outdoors in the rain. Thankfully we had a tent. It went quite smoothly, I think. Numbers will come soon after the treasurer reconciles the monies.

Homeschool banquet - I got the kids' outfits all set, ordered the flowers last week, realized I had nothing to wear at all, but managed to get everyone to the banquet on time and looking fine! What a lovely evening - well-planned, lots of fun, and good friends! An icebreaker game got everything started around 6pm, then a buffet dinner of pasta, chicken, and salad. After that, the dance floor was open and the kids dove in full force - a mix of Christian music like dcTalk, popular music like Taylor Swift & Lady Gaga, classic music like Love Shack, and specialty music like Cotton-Eyed Joe and the Chicken Dance. Oh yeah, and Thriller. LOL Check my facebook videos. The dancing had to end by 11 but I think everyone had a wonderful time.

Soccer - Yeah, it keeps going! LOL SUZY SCORED A GOAL THIS WEEK! On Saturday in the rain. Did I see it? No, but David did.

Nature Center - James and Suzy had nature center classes Wednesday afternoon. The weather was warm and sunny, and they had a good time.

Karate - Going well. A couple intense workouts last week though! We are getting ready for testing the end of May.

Sunday - Headed up to Maryann's. The initial plan was to bring home a bed she is selling me, but I realized it wouldn't fit in the van with the kids in there too, so that plan was postponed. She and I watched a Viggo movie we'd both been wanting to see. Alatriste was a Spanish movie; yes, Viggo is fluent in Spanish (and 5 other languages apparently). Good movie. Emily went to youth group with Gabby and David played video games with Alex; Suzy and Kathleen hung out. Lovely relaxing day.

Sunday - Relax, Spend day at McDowells
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, Karate, Soccer Meeting
Tuesday - WORK 5, Park Day, Soccer Game (S), Soccer Practice (E,J)
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Running Class
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons, Karate, Soccer Practice (S,J), Essay Class, SUZY'S BIRTHDAY!
Friday - WORK 5, INCH CONFERENCE, Soccer Game (E, but I think she's missing it)
Saturday - Soccer Games??? (S,J), INCH CONFERENCE
Sunday - Relax!, Church

The state homeschool convention is this weekend and I am going with friends. We are going to have fun! And maybe even go see POTC4 while we are there. If not, then Sunday for sure!

I am also going with friends to a free running form class on Wednesday night. Gotta fit in 3 running sessions this week. Should have done one today. Bleh.

More soccer, karate, soccer, karate, soccer, essay class. And work work work - 5 hours a day.
CANNOT WAIT FOR SUMMER!

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Relax, and Enjoy Mother's Day
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, Karate, Soccer Registration
Tuesday - WORK 5, Park Day, Soccer Games (J,S), Soccer Practice (E)
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Nature Center class (J,S), Soccer Game (E)
Thursday - WORK 4, Lessons, Karate, Soccer Practice (S,J), Work Meeting
Friday - WORK 4, Lessons
Saturday - Soccer Game (S,J,E), Soccer Registration, Homeschool Banquet
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Relax, church

Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, Karate, Moms Night Out
Tuesday - WORK 4, Soccer Practice (J,S), Soccer Game (E)
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Youth Group/Church (D,J), Art class (E,J,S)
Thursday - WORK 4, Lessons, Karate, Essay Class, Soccer Practice (S,J)
Friday - WORK 4
Saturday - Self-defense (D), Soccer Game (S,J,E)
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Weekly Preview and Review

Too wet for the egg hunt - rescheduled.
20 teens in a room learning to write essays - went well.
Karate class - I think I have my form memorized and so do most of the kids. We are also learning a bowstaff form.
Soccer - All the kids had their first games - Emily's team won, though I did not go to the game. James's team also won. Suzy's team played hard but lost. I went to a board meeting and talked things through for registration. Also brought an Assistant Registrar on board with the goal of him taking over for me next year when I am done.
House - We got the rooms moved but lost momentum and stuff isn't put away yet. We bought some furniture from a friend who is moving - a couch, 2 desks, a dresser, and a shelving unit thingie. Finding a place for all of that and getting it into place took a while. Next is getting the landing all organized; it also needs to be painted but that may wait until soccer is over.
Easter - Went to the Vineyard church this morning - nice service. My friend Donna and her daughter participated in the worship dance. Had ham dinner afterwards at home, then had a nice afternoon. We dyed our eggs today and had an egg hunt and a jellybean hunt. The kids watched a movie. Bob and David took a long nap and Suzy put on a play for me.

Sunday - Relax, church
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons
Tuesday - WORK 4, 1/2 day Lessons, Soccer Practice (E,J,S), karate, SOF leadership mtg
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Youth Group/Church (D,J), Soccer Game (E)
Thursday - WORK 4, Lessons, Karate, Soccer Practice (S)
Friday - WORK 4, Egg Hunt, Soccer Game (E-away)
Saturday - Self-defense (D), Soccer Game (J,E)
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Still looking for a van and a couple of recliners. And I wouldn't sneer at a reasonably priced treadmill.

Gonna go get my jammies on and kick David off the TV so I can watch a movie. Have a great week, everyone! And I hope you had a blessed Easter!

Weekly Preview and Review

Oops, forgot to post this. Sorry!

Sunday - Relax, church
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, Karate, AYSO board mtg
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Soccer
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Youth Group/Church (D,J), Soccer Game (E-Away)
Thursday - WORK 4, Lessons, Karate, Egg Hunt, Essay Class (D,E), Soccer Practice (S)
Friday - WORK 4
Saturday -Clean house!
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Weekly Preview and Review

So, we went to church on Sunday AND Wednesday this past week. I don't even recall the last time we did that. We have not participated in Wednesday night church in a couple of years.

After church Sunday, we went out to eat at Cici's Pizza (buffet) with a couple of families. We stayed for a long time while the kids played and chatted.

Karate is going well; we started the regular session so we are now working on earning our yellow belts. This is the form we are learning, though we are doing more (MUCH more) than just this in class. (Just the first 45 seconds of the video shows the form. The rest is instructions.)

David was invited to attend an adult self-defense session at the karate studio on Saturday mornings which sounds intriguing. After a bit of persuasion, he decided to attend and see what it's about. Sounds like he liked it. Bob took him today since I wasn't feeling well. In future, I may go running while he's at class. There's a nice paved 1 mile loop just a mile up the road.

Let's see.... What else? Oh, the girls' NEW room is now half lilac, half bright green. That's the big room over the living room. We are moving the girls' stuff in there right now. Their old room is a COMPLETE PIT. Disgusting. The boys are helping clean it out and then they will paint their rooms this weekend.

Everyone is getting new beds. Eventually. And we are looking for some good used furniture for the living room - preferably two recliners and a coach.

I decided to teach a repeat of the essay class I taught last February and March. It will meet four Thursdays after karate, every other week. I have about 15 teens signed up for it. The proceeds from that will help pay for next year's curriculum. This starts on the 21st.

Sunday - Relax, church - where?

Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, Karate

Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons (1/2 day), Homeschool Rollerskating, Soccer Practice (E), Movie Night?

Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Youth Group/Church, Meeting for Co-op,

Thursday - WORK 4, Lessons, Karate, Soccer Practice (E)

Friday - WORK 4

Saturday - SOCCER GAMES (J&S), Book Club!
Sunday - Relax!, Church

I imagine that James and Suzy will also have soccer practice this week, but I have heard NOTHING from their coaches yet.

Tuesday is busy, so it's likely that the Movie Night won't happen. But the local theater is showing Sound of Music on the big screen for FREE. I'd hate to miss it!

Weekly Preview and Review

This week was mostly about getting ready for the program on Friday night, which turned out GREAT! You can look at some photos and vids on facebook, but I'll give you a quick overview of what each of my kids did. (Not all the vids are up yet, but they will be.)
David - wrote a program in Visual Basic Script and it was displayed on the big screen. He also ran the computer for this part of the program
Emily - danced in a worship dance and played Charlotte Lucas in our Austentatious skit - Pride and Prejudice in 100 Seconds. She also received a special award for reading all 6 of Austen's novels.
James - demonstrated a Lego Robotics concept
Suzy - participated in a cheerleading performance and went on stage to receive a certificate from one of her teachers.

We went to karate twice and are enjoying it more and more. Our homeschool session is going to have some distinct advantages over the regular sessions, but we do have the option of going to the evening class if we need to miss our regular session.

I finished all my work hours by Thursday night, save for 45 minutes which I finished before co-op Friday morning. That took the pressure off on Friday!

The kids and Bob did one coat of paint on the girls' new room - half lilac and half spring green - their choices. Today will see the second coat of paint and maybe the trim?? The boys are deciding on their colors and how that long room will be divided.

David and Emily went home with friends after co-op Friday. (I had intended not to let them and in fact David said no to at least one request, but I'm a sucker for the right plea! lol) So, I just had James and Suzy. I took them out to Taco Bell, and while we were out, James got his hand slammed in the car door. He was pretty stoic about it and doesn't seem to have any lasting effects. I grabbed some snow and stuck it on there right away. (So, there's one advantage of having snow still in April!) THEN, we stopped home before the program to get something that was forgotten and the car keys got locked in the house. A few minutes of panic before I realized that keys to the FRONT door were in my purse which was in the van which was not locked. Whew!

Program went off without a single noticeable hitch! So great! The church sanctuary was packed! Lots of great comments. The table displays were lovely and creative!

Oh, and David was baptized in the Holy Spirit Wednesday night while visiting a friend's youth group! Praise God! He's wanted to go there regularly for a while, but it's kind of far from our house. But maybe I should make the effort, eh?

Sunday - Relax, church - where?
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Karate, Support Meeting
Tuesday - WORK 4
Wednesday - WORK 4, Transcript workshop, Youth Group/Church?
Thursday - WORK 4, Karate
Friday - WORK 4
Saturday - NO PLANS!!!
Sunday - Relax!, Church

Because of the weather (still cold and we still have snow on the ground!), soccer practices have not started. I know Emily will begin the second week of April and I assume Suzy and James also will, because they have games on April 16. But that gives us a reprieve from the busy schedule that will entail.

So, we are entrenched in the bedroom redesign/changing around project and we need to get a move on!

Have a great week!

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

Weekly Preview and Review

Sunday - Cirque Shanghai-L,S
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, Gymnastics-J,S
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lessons, D-drivers ed
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, D-drivers ed, Art class-E,J,S, Dentist-E,S

Thursday - WORK 5 Lessons,

Friday - WORK 5, Co-op, Emily's 14th birthday!
Saturday -

I only logged 10 hours at work last week due to server issues mostly. Nothing I had control over. So, I'll need to make up those 10 missed hours over the next 3 weeks if I want a normal paycheck.

Emily's birthday is this week! She is going to be 14!

Last week was not busy and that was good because we were all still trying to recover. We didn't do much of anything except rest and try to keep on top of the chores.

Thursday David and I did go to the dance class. Emily missed it because she was still rather sick. That was so FUN! What a nice group of teens.

I also went out and bought groceries - was that Wednesday? And while I was out I went to the thrift store.

I'm pretty much the only one still sick. The cold has moved into my chest. Nasssssty. I've slept two nights in the recliner to fend off the coughing.

Anyway, THIS week? Busier.

Weekly Preview and Review

Sunday - Recovery
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons, AYSO meeting
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons

Thursday - WORK 4 Lessons, Austentatious Dance class/Movie Day

Friday - WORK 4

Saturday - Book Club!

Well, I never wrote a review last week. So the post just went up today though it says Feb 12 since that's the day I started writing it. Sorry about that. Plans for last week mostly were changed anyway because we were all sick at one point or another.

David got sick last Sunday, I think, and he was not able to go to his last drivers ed class on Monday night. So he has two classes to make up during the last week of February. He was sick for at least 3 days with fever and aches and now it has changed into coughing.

Emily has had a bad cold. James started running a fever on Thursday WHILE he was at a friend's house. I felt like the Bad Mama then, but I had taken his temp before he left and it was normal. Suzy started running a temp today and she's had sniffles all week. I started feeling bad on Thursday also and today have a nasty cough. Bob, surprisingly, has stayed healthy. He worked an extra day last week (5 days!) so he wasn't IN the house much.

The Austentatious Dance day went SO WELL. We had about 14 people come to walk through some of the dances with a friend of mine who has done some dance re-enactments at Mackinac. I wasn't expecting it to be so fun! I think Emily enjoyed it too, despite a few moments of being overwhelmed at not knowing which way to go. David was not able to attend because he was sick still, but we have one more session next week.

Gymnastics last week was nice. Emily was sick so she didn't go, but James and Suzy really enjoy it. We didn't go to the free movie night (Wizard of Oz) though we could have. I was just feeling schedule pressures.

James was running a fever so he didn't go to co-op. I was originally planning to leave him home alone. (He's 11; we're only a mile away.) But I decided to stay home with him because of the rough night he had Thursday night, and I was glad I did because his fever went up high during the day twice and he would have been miserable if he was alone. I was sicker than I had anticipated too, so probably it was better that I didn't go to co-op. The other 3 kids went under Darlene's supervision.

I worked 4 extra hours this past week and Bob picked up an extra 8 hour day. He has a new supervisor and apparently there were some scheduling issues.

Emily's regency gown doesn't fit her very well. It's very tight. So, I think we are going to look for another. I am rather bummed since I've already done a LOT of work on that dress. When I had her try it on, she said she can't breathe in it. Well, if you have to dance wearing it, you do need to breathe. Maybe I should get her a girdle instead? Don't know. But I am back to square 1 for her costume.

Found out the 10K on Mackinac is the same day as a good friend's son's graduation open house. So, change of plans there. :-( I am disappointed.

James wants to go to the zoo. He likes the zoo. A lot. He asks about it all the time. So, I will soon make plans to take him to the zoo.

There is some progress on the yearbook. I need to connect with Darlene since I missed co-op yesterday and see what stuff was turned in. Then I can finish compiling everything, upload it to lulu.com and make the order.

Weekly Preview and Review

Sunday - Church, James to a friend
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, D-drivers ed, Gymnastics, L-training session
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Movie Night?

Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons,

Thursday - WORK 4 Lessons, Austentatious Dance class/Movie Day

Friday - WORK 4, Co-op

Saturday -

Weekly Preview and Review

So, a lot of our plans changed from last week due to the "blizzard". Not sure I'd actually call it a blizzard, but it certainly was a lot more snow, wind, and bitter cold than I'd prefer to have. I think we got about 8-10 inches of snow. It was hard to tell since it blew around so much.

The movie night was canceled on Tuesday.
Bob did not have to work Wednesday and wasn't scheduled to work Thursday anyway.
Art class was canceled Wednesday.
David's driver's ed was canceled Wednesday & Thursday since school was called off.

Since I don't drive to work, my work scheduled went forward as usual. I worked 4 hours each day. So that's 2 weeks in a row of normal work and my schedule just seems so much more open. Of course, that's probably because just about everything was canceled last week! LOL

We did not have snow days when school was called off. I prefer to take our days off when I actually like to go outside.

David and I watched all of Firefly and then followed it up with the Serenity movie, which is a followup to the canceled series. And I keep finding myself wishing I could watch a new episode. Something about it just draws me. What's funny is that I watched the Serenity movie a few years ago and it didn't interest me too much then. But having watched all of Firefly (which is only 14 episodes, as the show didn't last too long) sure gives me a different perspective!

We've also started watching Psych on Netflix Instant. Well, David is rewatching it since he has seen most of them already. I like it more than I thought I would, but I was under the impression it was a sitcom.

Co-op on Friday went really well. We are starting to prepare for next year, gathering class proposals and organizing the leadership team. I will be Assistant Coordinator next year. My Austentatious class is the most fun class I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. We are practicing a skit for the End of the Year program and this month we will have two dance classes to prepare for the ball we are going to in March. My kids like their classes and love seeing their friends.

I did the taxes yesterday. That's a load off my mind - 1) to have it done and 2) because I don't owe anything, which I was worried about as an independent contractor.

The co-op yearbook is going to be my focus for the next few days. I am in charge of collecting the pictures and pages and compiling it on a self-publishing site (lulu.com). I have the bulk of everything turned in now, so it's a matter of getting it all onto pages (digitally) and uploading.

This afternoon I think I'll be doing some sewing. Didn't get to any yesterday.

I redid the job chart and instead of rotating jobs daily, we are now rotating weekly. Each child has two rooms they are "in charge" of keeping tidy and daily jobs in those rooms. They each also have a meal prep or meal clean-up chore.

Sunday - Church, James to a friend
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, SOF meeting
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons, D-drivers ed, Rollerskating
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, D-drivers ed
Thursday - WORK 4 Lessons, D-drivers ed
Friday - WORK 4, Valentine bowling party, D-youth retreat
Saturday - D-youth retreat

Looks like another cold week in store! I am really ready for this to be done.

Oh yeah, I am hoping to run a 10K in June on Mackinac Island. That's 18 weeks away. I can't really start training until the weather is a bit more cooperative. Hurry up, nice weather!

I do want to do kickboxing three times this week. But if I make it twice, I will call that a success. I haven't done any exercising in a couple months. I know I keep saying I want to start, but really all I want to do is huddle on the couch and watch TV. Getting the kickboxing going again will help me when I step outside and start running.

My goal for the next few months is to replace our living room furniture with nicer (but still used) items - two recliners and a couch to begin with. I also want to get the kitchen counters replaced since the old-fashioned stuff on there now has been covered with contact paper for years and years. And the barn roof needs to be replaced, but that will wait for spring, as will that second long-overdue coat of yellow paint on the house. And the first coat on the barn. Sigh, there is sure a lot to do.

Weekly Preview and Review

Last Sunday Suzy was invited to a birthday party that included several hours of swimming at the rec center. When I picked her up later that evening, I hung out for a while and watched #3 of Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece theater. I missed #2 so I was a little lost, but it was good to hang out.

David had two drivers ed sessions this past week and he was supposed to drive Saturday morning. That was canceled at the last minute due to snow, so he has yet to actually get behind the wheel. I think he will be doing that this week.

UPDATE - David mentioned to me sometime on Saturday that he was signed up to drive on Sunday! lol So, yes, he had his first 'behind the wheel' session on Sunday afternoon. And he loved it!

This was a nice quiet week here. I worked just the normal 20 hours and had a lot of time to get a few things done. I visited a couple thrift stores - found those gorgeous bowls I posted on facebook, a few shirts, some glass custard 'cups' and a lovely long skirt that I will add to Emily's costume as an overskirt for her gown.

Thursday night, Emily and I went to movie night for our Austentatious class. We watched the 1999 Mansfield Park (Frances O'Connor as Fanny, Jonny Lee Miller as Edmund and James Purefoy as Tom) which I like much more than the 2007 version with Billie Piper as Fanny and Blake Ritson as Edmund. Neither one matches the book exactly, especially in their characterization of Fanny, but we enjoyed ourselves. I am so happy with how this class is turning out! We have moved on to Emma now, and just have Persuasion left after that!

I planned to spend Saturday working on getting to know my 'new' sewing machine and starting the alterations for the kids' outfits. But the sewing machine needs a bobbin case holder that should have been in there. It's not there. So, the bobbin case just rattles around inside. Dangit! So, I've done some hand sewing instead of starting with the long seams I planned to do. A friend is lending me a machine so I will have that to work with and I think we'll try selling the machine with the missing part.

James went on a field trip Friday to the chocolate factory. I've been on that field trip 3 times and didn't really want to repeat it a fourth time. The other kids didn't care about it, so I asked someone to take James for me. He was thrilled and then he spent the night and all day Saturday with his friend.

We had a few inches of new snow that made everything look pretty. I guess we're in for a blizzard tomorrow night and Wednesday. We shall see if that comes to pass. If so, Tuesday night and Wednesday's plans will look a lot different than they do here.

Sunday - Church, Suzy to a party
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, Gymnastics, D-drivers ed
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Movie Night (FREE at the theater! to see Sound of Music)
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Art class, D-drivers ed
Thursday - WORK 4 Lessons, D-drivers ed
Friday - WORK 4, Co-op
Saturday - No plans!

Stay warm and safe during the blizzard if it affects you!

Weekly Preview and Review - DOUBLE edition

Well, I didn't get a post up last week, so this is a double.

LAST WEEK:
Saturday - SCRAPBOOKING!
Sunday - SCRAPBOOKING!
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lessons, E-eye dr., D-drivers ed
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, D-drivers ed
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons, Bob dr., D-drivers ed
Friday - WORK 5, Co-op
Saturday - Book Club, D-painting

This was the last week of being able to work 5 hours a day. I was able to earn quite a bit extra during these last two months when we were able to work extra without having to speak up for the hours.

David started drivers education. I made him pay for it himself, which he mostly did by ebaying stuff. He was apprehensive about this, but has settled in, I think. He will begin getting behind the wheel probably the week of the 24th. His is a large class, so maybe it will be the week after. His class goes 2-3 nights a week until Feb 10th and then I can take him for his learner permit. He has to rack up hours behind the wheel before taking Segment 2 of drivers training later in the summer.

To earn the last of the money to pay for his drivers training by doing that for me, David did some painting in the kitchen on Saturday and Sunday. Eleven hours got most of the cabinets and all of the trim. I think there are a few more hours in that job and I will pay him cash for that. I don't know when I would have found the time and I KNOW he did a better job than I would have! James wants to paint for money too, but I am not sure he's ready for that. We do have lots more trim to paint!

Scrapbooking weekend was lovely! I organized it with my friend Darlene as a fundraiser for the Regency Ball. Emily earned the money to cover her hotel room and gas money. We had 13 women come for all or part of the weekend and 5 girls to help with the meals and carrying things. We are already thinking about repeating the weekend next January!

THIS WEEK:
Sunday - Church, Suzy to a party
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, D-drivers ed
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons
Wednesday - WORK 4, Lessons
Thursday - WORK 4 Lessons, Bob dr.
Friday - WORK 3, D-drivers ed
Saturday - No plans?

I have yet to manage adding any exercise back into my routine. I guess that the extra hour of work each day sort of eats that time. But I have been successful at eliminating sweets from my diet. I have had no desserts or candy or anything sugary in the last 3 weeks. It hasn't been too hard. I don't plan to eat like this forever, but I felt something drastic was in order to break the habit and to jump start the weight loss again.

Maybe if I only get my normal 20 hours this week, I will be able to add in some kickboxing. It's WAY too cold to do anything outside. I have not had any regular exercise since maybe November. I do still plan to train for a 10K, but I don't think I will be able to commit to that training until we have warmer weather and no slippery roads. Maybe next winter I will have a treadmill....

Bob had his pain doctor appointment again last week and they did a different sort of injection. It's outpatient at the hospital and I have to go since he is not allowed to drive home. If this works, then the doctor will explore further. The first two kinds they tried didn't help his pain.

Emily and James had friends over after co-op, Suzy went home with a friend for a couple nights and David spent Friday night at a friends' house too. Busy social night on Friday.

I've been doing a lot of swagbucks stuff lately - searching and surveys. I've earned enough for $30 of amazon gift certificates and have started redeeming them. I will just let them pile up in my amazon gift card balance and use that for Christmas gifts. If you aren't earning swagbucks, you really should be! It doesn't really add anything to your day, if you are already on the computer. And if you sign up under me, I get bucks for each buck you earn, too.

I cleaned out the back room on Saturday; that was satisfying. I've reduced my stuff back there by a whole file cabinet full! Downsizing! No point in keeping all those files since I always look online first nowadays.

Weekly Preview and Review

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

So here this is a day late. Or two, depending on how you are counting. But maybe you're not counting at all!

Actually I had the dollar. But I needed $4 since I was sending David up to the gas station for a gallon of milk. Since I went out TWICE and neither time remembered to get milk. So, I raided the stash of quarters and sent him out into the cold. Fresh air is good for him, right?

Saturday - Baby Shower & Thrift shopping
Sunday - Go to church, SOF planning meeting, and watch Downton Abbey
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons, Gymnastics
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lessons
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons
Friday - WORK 5, No Lessons, SCRAPBOOKING
Saturday - SCRAPBOOKING!

Everything is all back to normal - no Christmas decorations in my house. The lights are still up on the porch, but that's not my domain. I love getting it back to normal.

Last week I went to Bob's doctor appointment with him. I used to do this regularly, after his accident. But once he was able to drive, I didn't go anymore. Maybe I should though. He never seems to know what the doctor told him. So, this time I went and asked her to give him some dietary guidelines for his high blood pressure. She said, no more than 4000 mg of sodium a day. Try counting that yourself sometime. lol

The kids had art class on Wednesday and after I dropped them off, I hit the Christmas clearance at Rite Aid. Got some LED lights we'd been hoping for and a few other odds and ends. I always look for clearance wrapping paper that doesn't look Christmas-y. I scored a few rolls of that.

Friday was co-op, but my co-teacher (and good friend Darlene) was teaching this week so I didn't have to prepare anything. We are reading Mansfield Park and it is SO MUCH BETTER the second time reading it. I enjoyed it! The girls like reading Austen too, which is so gratifying! We are well underway in planning the Regency Ball.

Saturday, I went to a baby shower for a book club friend. Suzy and Emily went with me and some other friends were there, so that was a nice time. And I didn't eat any cake.

I have not eaten any sweets in a week! That's amazing. And I lost 5 lbs from my high on New Year's Day. ACK - that was a shocker on the scale, seeing the number so high! LOL I still need to lose 20 to get back to my lowest weight. I hope to get back into the exercise routine this week.

I got all my pictures printed out for scrapbooking - the year of 2007 should be all scrapped after this weekend. I am working on powerplanning it right now to make it smooth as silk! Emily is going along as a teen worker - she gets to scrap too and she is over the moon with excitement!

Re-visited a church on Sunday. The kids all like it. I'm not so sure. Bob is probably going to take a while to acclimate wherever we go.

David has made dinner - brats and rice, so I better go eat it! Suzy set the table and picked a veggie. Wonder what it is? And James and Emily get to clean up! LOL

Weekly Preview and Review

Saturday - New Year's Day & Thrift shopping
Sunday - Relax & De-Christmas the house
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Lessons
Tuesday - WORK 5, Lessons, go to dr. with Bob
Wednesday - WORK 5, Lessons, Art Class
Thursday - WORK 5, Lessons
Friday - WORK 5, Co-op
Saturday - Baby Shower

Let's see - I posted about Christmas, so let's move on, shall we?

Monday my friend Darlene hosted a movie day for our Austentatious class of teen girls. We invited our book club ladies too, so we had a good turnout for watching the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. It's a long movie - almost 6 hours, so it is definitely an all day event. We had a great time! I got up at 5:30 to get a jumpstart on my work hours, so I was able to still fit in 5 hours of work - before and after the movie day.

Tuesday I also got up at 5:30, though I didn't need to. I kinda liked getting so much done so early. So, when Darlene invited people over for an impromptu sledding day, we were able to take advantage of it since I had a head start on my work hours again. We spent the afternoon there - the kids did some sledding and some socializing, and the moms mostly just hung out around the dining room table and chatted. Alex came home with David and spent the night.

David turned 16 on Wednesday! Can you believe my baby is now 16? He invited a few friends to come over and watch the 1982 Tron movie and have pizza before we headed out to the Imax theater to watch the new Tron: Legacy movie. I was rather unenthusiastic about watching this movie. 1 - I haven't enjoyed 3D movies. 2 - The 1982 movie was very cheesy with dumb dialogue. 3 - I didn't have good expectations for the music and sound.

BUT - I loved the movie. The 3D was ever-so cool and the soundtrack was AWESOME and the sound was not too overwhelming. I did have trouble with my left eye. I don't think my prescription is correct as I have trouble with it daily. But that's not the movie's fault, nor the fault of the 3D effects. Anyway, I loved Tron: Legacy and I will see other movies in 3D, I think.

I had to work very late on Wednesday to get my work hours in, around David's activities. And I was not able to do my extra hour. Bummer, eh?

Dinner out with the leadership team of SOF was on the agenda for Thursday night. I got my hours done easily during the day since the kids had no lessons to work on. We were supposed to meet at the nearby steakhouse, but there was a long wait. So we went to a family restaurant instead and it was not a good experience overall. I had a really tasty chicken quesadilla, but the appetizers were cold and several of my friends got cold fries. The room was freezing too. But we had good conversation!

Friday was New Year's Eve. I slept rather later than normal - feeling the effects of three 5:30 AM days this week. Got the work hours in and then headed to Maryann's with the kids and one extra friend for a New Year's party. We had a very fun evening - games and movies and food! Stayed up very very late chatting with Maryann, but had to turn around and get up at 8 am on Saturday to drive home because I had plans to.....

Go thrift store shopping with friends to take advantage of the 50% off sales! We are all going to the Regency Ball in March and we hoped to find appropriate dresses in the Regency style - empire waist, floor length, sleeves. All of us were successful! I love my dress - it's plum colored and I like the neckline, though it's not square as it probably should be. I may end up modifying it somehow with ribbon. It's also quite lowcut, so I'll probably use some lace as a coverup. Now on to the accessorizing! I still have to find a dress for Emily and some appropriate clothing for David.

Today we slept very late and then de-Christmas-ed the house. THANK GOD! That's pretty much all we did, except try to eat all the sweets left from the holidays.

Because.... I am going on a No Sweets fast until Valentine's Day. And since I am on the fast, pretty much everyone else is too, at least while they are at home. I'm not making them promise to follow it, but I'm not providing any sweets during the next 6 weeks. :-)

Weekly Preview and Review

Saturday - Christmas!
Sunday - Relax
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Pride & Prejudice Movie Day
Tuesday - WORK 5
Wednesday - WORK 5, David's 16th b-day, Go to see Tron
Thursday - WORK 5
Friday - WORK 5, New Year's EVE!
Saturday - New Year's DAY! (Thrift store 50% off clothing sale! YAY!)

Last week Suzy stayed with my parents when we were in town for Christmas. She had a great time visiting Suzy's donut shop, scrapbooking, seeing Megamind with Aunt Janet, and much much more. We met up with Mom and Dad on Tuesday afternoon to get her back. She was SO TIRED! lol

We went on to Maryann's for the evening. On the way we stopped at Kmart and bought a wafflemaker since I had the bright idea of making waffles for Christmas. We also stopped and bought a used Singer sewing machine I'd seen on craigslist for $30. The person lived only a mile or so from Maryann, so that worked out great. The sewing machine needed a bobbin case, but I found one on ebay for about $5. So for $35 I now have (hopefully) a working sewing machine. When the part comes, I'll let you know for sure!

Weeks have passed, maybe months, since we'd spent any time at the McDowell's, so it was great to visit there! We just hung out, made dinner, chatted, and then watched Knight and Day. Well, that was Maryann and me and Erin (her adult daughter). The kids played with toys and video games, and outside in the snow! So fun! I knew I had to work the next day though, so I cut it off earlier than I'd have liked and brought the whole crew home.

Christmas cookies took up most of Wednesday. I didn't make bunches, like last year. Just some sugar cookies - all for us! LOL

I think it was Thursday I went to the grocery store and it was already pretty crowded. Can't imagine what the lines and parking lots were like on Friday (Christmas Eve) since I didn't go anywhere! We had thought about going to church Christmas Eve but we pooped out. Wish we'd have gone though.

Our Christmas dinner was a non-traditional nibble tray feast and it was a HIT! I think we'll do this from now on. I did cook a ham on Thursday since we got one unexpectedly as a gift. But on Christmas Day, I did trays of: cheeses, summer sausage, deli ham, cut-up veggies, pickles, shrimp, chips, fruits, jello, cookies, candies, etc... I changed up some of it as the day went on. Most of the food was left out all day and the kids just ate as they wanted. Next year, I'll prepare it all on Christmas Eve day rather than waiting for Christmas Day and then all I will have to do is pull it out of the fridge! Everyone loved it and there was virtually no cleanup. I did make cheesy potatoes because *I* wanted them. But those are easy anyway. So, I think we have a new tradition! And I'll be thinking all year things to put on our nibble trays.

I had planned to make waffles on Christmas morning, but we had some muffins and fruit first thing and no one was hungry for waffles at the time we'd planned them. So I figured we'd do it much later in the day. But still no one was hungry - nibbling all day! LOL So, we had it for breakfast today instead (Boxing Day).

This is how our Christmas Day looked:
Sometime between 7-8 am James got up, but no one was up so he went back upstairs, I guess.
Sometime before 9, I got up and made the coffee. James heard me and came down. The rest came down eventually, except David who had to be pried out of bed with a crowbar, almost. Once everyone was upright, we opened our stocking gifts - youngest to oldest (kids only).

We'd planned waffles after that, but as described above, that didn't occur. So I got dressed and Bob too, and then we moved on to the gifts. We decided to have everyone open 2 gifts and then move to the next person, youngest to oldest. (We don't do a chaotic tearing-into-the-gifts thing, here.)

So, that took a while, to get through all the gifts. What a blessing that I was able to buy so much this year. All those extra hours paid off! It's been a long time since we've been self-reliant at Christmas.

After the last present was opened, I put out the food and people began nibbling. Bob napped, the kids played with gifts, and eventually we played Apples to Apples. (We did that on Christmas Eve too.) In the evening, we read the Christmas story aloud from the Bible, sang some Christmas hymns and had our birthday cake for Jesus. We take it outside and He "blows out the candle".

We settled down to watch a Christmas movie. I was hoping for It's a Wonderful Life, but the kids had the idea of watching the new Veggie Tales, It's a Meaningful Life, so we watched that on Netflix instant. It's kind of a take off on the Frank Capra movie, but also with elements from A Christmas Carol and The Polar Express. My verdict? Not a movie for repeat viewings, sadly. Too much sappy singing, and not funny enough, though it was explicitly Christian unlike some of the more recent Veggie Tales. After that we watched another Netflix instant movie - The Missing Lynx. Stupid. Don't bother.

The kids settled down in the living room to sleep "under" the Christmas tree. This was the 1st year that David asked if he could sleep upstairs instead. :-( Made me sad, and I said NO! It's tradition! Sleep in the living room! They had a bit of fun with some lighted glow sticks I'd purchased and then settled down to sleep. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Can you believe David will be SIXTEEN this week!?

Christmas Slide Show

Weekly Preview and Review

Saturday - Family Christmas in GR
Sunday - Come home from GR (without Suzy!)
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Do Christmas Cards? Wrap gifts
Tuesday - WORK, Go pick up Suzy and then errands and visit a friend
Wednesday - WORK, Christmas cookies and go look at lights?
Thursday - WORK, Last minute Christmas stuff
Friday - WORK, Christmas EVE!
Saturday - Christmas DAY!

Mostly family reads this blog so I won't rehash Mellon Christmas. (Unless someone out there really wants me to.) Suzy stayed in GR with Mom and Dad for some special grandkid/grandparent time. I will get her on Tuesday.

Last week was a blur of work and Christmas preparations. I went shopping (online and in person). I much prefer online shopping. How easy is that!? And some really great deals! I worked almost 5 extra hours last week, which as I have mentioned really taps me out.

We did lessons a couple days last week and then moved to Christmas gift preparations. Each of the kids made some. David created a lovely watermelon pencil sketch for my parents, James made fudge, and the girls made ornaments.

Monday and Tuesday last week were very snowy, windy, and cold, so all of our activities were canceled and we stayed home. That was nice and relaxing.

I have traditionally served ham on Christmas Day, but this year Bob asked me to serve something else. No religious reason (lol) - he just wants some variety. I thought of a beef roast, but when I went grocery shopping last night at Walmart, I checked their beef roasts and some
of them were $50+! Of course, I could choose a regular chuck roast or something like that. But I went online to a Christian moms forum I am a part of and posed the question to them. One of the moms says she always just does snack-y trays of salami, cheese, crackers, veggies, fruits, sweets, etc.... When I mentioned that to Bob, he really liked the ideas. So I think that's what I'll do! EASY! Love that part. I will cook some pierogies my friend is selling at some point that day, or maybe Christmas Eve. And I want cheesy potatoes. So I will make that.

Also, I want a waffle maker. Walmart has one in their ad for $14.88 and Kmart has one for $20. I looked at the local Walmart but they didn't have that one. Thinking we will have Belgian waffles on Christmas morning.

I can't think of much else and I want to go get the Christmas cards done and watch a movie.

I miss my baby!

Weekly Preview and Review

Saturday - Book Club
Sunday -SNOWED IN, Christmas Decorating

Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Christmas School, Gymnastics
Tuesday - WORK, XMAS School, Leadership Dinner

Wednesday - WORK, XMAS School
Thursday - WORK, XMAS School
Friday - WORK, Christmas Skating Party, Leave for GR?
Saturday - Family Christmas in GR
Sunday - Come home from GR (without Suzy!)

The homeschool meeting last Monday ended up canceled - not enough people RSVP'd. Which normally would have bugged me, but it meant I didn't have to rush from one meeting to the other. So, I stayed at the soccer board meeting longer.

We did "Christmas School" on Monday, but the rest of the week kinda bit the dust for extra Christmas-y things. Emily was working on something difficult in math and I needed to give her extra help which ate up a large amount of my day. Also David was called in to do computer consulting again at that private school two days this week. They paid him by giving him two computers, which he was geeked about, but isn't going to help him pay for his driver's training.

He's going to be taking his classes starting in mid-January and he needs to come up with quite a bit more money before then. I hope he has a plan, because I am not going to be able to bail him out of that.

I've been doing a bit of consulting for the company that provides our online foreign language curriculum and they set up an interview for me with a local newspaper. The article was about how technology is used in home education and I had a phone interview. Great! I don't mind ever talking about home education, especially with computers and technology. But then, he said he wanted to send a photographer out and really the article wouldn't run without photos anyway. So, I agreed, despite being very much out of my comfort zone. I don't have people over much. And these photos of my home and our learning would be published for anyone to see! But I bit the bullet. The kids weren't keen on the idea either, but they agreed and they were very co-operative. The article was supposed to be in Friday's Flint Journal. But it wasn't. Augh!

UPDATE (Sunday) - The article was on the FRONT PAGE of Sunday's paper. A big picture of Suzy (though they spelled it "Susan" @@) and Bob. Inside the paper, there was a pic of me and Emily. All in all, a nice article about technology in home education. When I can find a link, I'll post it.

Thursday night we were invited to go with friends to see the Christmas display a relative puts on - quite a spectacle!! Lights, wooden cutouts, elaborately designed wooden reindeer, piped-in Christmas music - it was like being at Bronner's - REALLY. Amazing display. Then we were invited in for refreshments - these people know how to entertain! What a lovely tradition. He starts decorating before Halloween!

"Gingerbread" houses were the plan for Friday. Friends invited us over to collaborate on gingerbread houses and we gladly agreed. The kids had a grand time and I enjoyed visiting with adults.

James spent Friday night attending a friend's basketball game and then spending the night. The rest of us had a low-key night. Well, *I* had to finish my work hours (still working at midnight) since I played all day.

The snow started early Sunday morning and when we got up (rather late, I'll admit), everything was white and sparkling. (Kind of like a Twilight vampire, only prettier.) It snowed ALL DAY. Monday it's supposed to start blowing. All the schools are closed, so I don't know if we will have gymnastics. But we didn't go anywhere Sunday. I was supposed to go to a movie and Emily was supposed to do a babysitting fundraiser - canceled.

Have a great week!

Weekly Preview and Review

Saturday - James' Gym & Swim party
Sunday - Nutcracker Ballet with Suzy (shopping with Suzy)
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Christmas School, SOF Meeting & Soccer Meeting (at the same time!)
Tuesday - WORK, XMAS School
Wednesday - WORK, XMAS School
Thursday - WORK, XMAS School
Friday - WORK, Gingerbread House Day, Babysitting Fundraiser
Saturday - Christmas Ladies "thing" w/Em and Suzy, Book Club
Sunday - Visit a church?

Sleeping in on Sundays - I just love it! Two weeks in a row now, we've done that. Argh - kind of at odds with our desire to find a church, isn't it? Then I spoke to a friend whose church meets Saturday night. Maybe that's what we should look for?

James turned 11 this week. He's just growing up so fast! His actual birthday on Wednesday was celebrated with family gifts, his choice of meals (pizza, and Hamburger Helper - yes, really), and cake and ice cream. On Saturday I took James and 4 of his friends to the local community center to play basketball and swim. That was fun (and low stress for me!).

David was sick this week; he slept most of the day on Thursday. He's feeling better but still congested. He got to spend the night at a friend's house Friday to celebrate that friend's birthday.

Co-op is over for 2010 but will continue with 7 more session in 2011 (Jan-April). We keep the same classes all year, so nothing will change regarding the schedule. We are enjoying it; the kids love most of their classes.

Tried to take Suzy to the Nutcracker ballet today. I'd bought tickets through Seize the Deal, which is like Groupon (a website that secures a local 'deal of the day'). I got 2 tickets for the price of 1 several weeks ago. Printed out the voucher and took it to the theater today and was told (along with a large number of other folks) that the organization that runs the theater had sold the tickets but apparently did not communicate that to the theater itself, who then of course ALSO sold the tickets. Double-booked. And SOLD OUT. So, we were out of luck. We were shocked but then just sort of shrugged our shoulders, thinking we'll get our money back. They offered us Holiday Pops tickets - not quite a replacement to my thinking. One woman was standing there with a huge bouquet of flowers along with her voucher. Her daughter was in the performance. She was out of luck too, unless they found her a seat. She had her mom with her to see her granddaughter dance. Another woman was so angry that she was threatening to call the media. The people who worked there were rather nonplussed by the whole thing and started a list, taking our names. We'll see how this plays out.

But Suzy and I had a nice afternoon shopping for Christmas gifts and then eating out together. She was all dressed up and I curled her hair - she felt very special. I took a pic of her at dinner but had intended to take one at the theater with the Nutcracker background. Since that was all messed up, I never got a full length picture of her.

Last week I worked 3.3 extra hours. I can work up to 5 extra hours every week until the middle of January. That gives me a total of 25 hours each week. If I can squeeze the extra hour in, I do it. That extra 20 hours a month really helps when the paycheck comes. Did you know I get paid only once a month?

I just noticed that everything hanging on my wall above my desk is crooked. Lovely. lol

OK, I am way way past my bedtime. I don't know if I can get up at 6:30 if I go to bed at 1:30. Guess we'll see, eh?