Weekly Preview and Review

Saturday - Book Club
Sunday - Visit a church, Write, Movie/Dinner with friends
Monday - WORK 4 hrs, Lessons, Write-in
Tuesday - WORK 4, Lessons, Write
Wednesday - Kickboxing, WORK 4, Lessons, Write
Thursday - WORK 4, Lessons, Write
Friday - WORK 4, Write-in, Co-op
Saturday - Scrapbooking Day
Sunday - Visit a church? Write

Visited our 4th church today. Kids went back tonight for youth group.

Writing is going ok, but this is one novel that will likely never see the light of day. Experimenting with a lot of new things like writing in 1st person.

The weather sure was nice, though I didn't enjoy the outdoors much.

Trying to imagine how to add exercising back into my routine. Afraid of re-injuring my ankle.

Going to an all day scrapbook fundraiser. Need to go through pix and decide what to scrap on Saturday. And then order my photos. Anyone want to join me?

Bob got a great deal on a non-working laptop and David has brought it back to life. So he now has a laptop of his own. He is GEEKED!!!

Had a wonderful time at book club last night. Discussed Gone with the Wind and watched the second part. Then we watched Went with the Wind from the Carol Burnett Show. OH so funny. Look it up on youtube.

David earned his second year varsity soccer pin this fall and received it at the awards banquet on Friday night. A REALLY long program (including a sermon!?) also included a dessert buffet and presentations to the 3 girls volleyball teams and the varsity boys soccer team. Now he wants a varsity jacket.

Suzy and James went to a field trip this week at Petco, a large pet store. They saw all kinds of interesting pets, as well as lots of pee and poop. LOL My friend Donna took them so I could work.

Weekly Preview and RECAP

Sunday - Relaxing Day (party being rescheduled)
Monday - WORK (4 hrs daily), Homeschool Support Meeting
Tuesday - Lessons, WORK
Wednesday - Lessons, WORK
Thursday - Beach Day, WORK
Friday - Lessons, WORK
Saturday - Nothing on the agenda! Lots to do!

Whew, the week went by in a blur. Memorial Day was really nice. Bob did have to work, though, which was kind of a bummer. We went uptown to see the little parade and watch the ceremonies - one at the four corners in which our pastor gave a short message, and another at the cemetery with a 21 gun salute, some spontaneous patriotic singing, and a (slightly delayed) flyover. The rest of the day was just relaxing. I could have worked, but I just didn't want to.

I was able to pick up 4 extra hours throughout the week though, which made up for Monday off. So Tues-Fri, I worked 5 hours each day. That extra hour really does max me out.

Twice this week, I helped the new Seeds of Faith coordinator work out the fall class schedule. Since this is her first year in the saddle (solo, anyway), she wanted some help from me. We have some exciting classes coming up! And I am very pleased to leave SOF in such good hands!

On Thursday, we were signed up to attend a field trip about 90 minutes away, but another more local opportunity arose on Friday and I took the time to organize a group to attend that instead. So, we passed on the far-away Thursday trip, though James was able to attend with a friend.

The opportunity I organized was the chance to attend a Civil War Encampment in Lapeer - a great experience. I will post more about that on Cornerstone, along with some photos.

What else? Bought a new shower curtain. Got it out of the package and part of it is transparent, which one could not tell from the photo. Can't have that. We have only one bathroom, so bathroom-sharing is a regular thing here. So, back to the store for a white liner to go behind the see-through curtain. Going to put that up in just a few minutes.

Bob and James (and a little of David) got the sidewalk mostly finished in the backyard. Looks nice!

David is mowing right now. He and Emily take turns every other week. Next year, James will learn how.

Bought some new socks, since mine seem to have mostly vanished.

Got a notice from the library - return Echo in the Bone MP3 or pay $65.00. Sigh. I am Not Done Yet. I need to finish it - just about 17 chapters to go! I listened to it all the way through the grocery store on Thursday night. LOL Got some odd looks, but I don't care. Better than Muzak and store announcements.

Rescheduling my Tomboy Tools party - apparently everyone in the world has something to do this Sunday. (except me and Christy - LOL)

Made reservations for homeschool camping week. We have two camping weeks on the schedule again - family camp with the church and homeschool camping. Yes, we sold our camper. No, we haven't bought a new one. However, a friend said we could borrow her pop-up if we haven't found something suitable. We may need to spend the camper $$ on a vehicle for Bob, or maybe we should save a little more before buying one.

My fitness blog - go visit!

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Relaxing Day (and catching up),
Monday - Spanish (LAST ONE!), WORK (4 hrs daily)
Tuesday - WORK, Bob's Birthday, Field Trip
Wednesday - Lessons, WORK, Soccer Game (J)
Thursday - Lessons, WORK, Soccer Game (J)
Friday - Park Day, WORK,
Saturday - Open House, Book Club

Sunday is the 8 year anniversary of Bob's accident.

James scored a goal today and so did Suzy - ask them their stories. Maybe I'll video them!

Gonna go to a movie tomorrow afternoon- wanna come along? I need some time away from here.

Looking at campers. Trying to decide what to get.

Deciding how best to communicate expectations to my family so that I don't have to oversee every little bit of their lives. I mean, should I REALLY have to say to my teenagers - did you brush your teeth? Are you wearing clean underwear?

Going to work on soccer paperwork this afternoon and also some lists for the kids for lessons and chores. I love organizing things. This should be fun.

Spanish is done this week - hurrah! Ole! My Mondays will belong to me again.

Took an elegant Suzy and her doll to a tea party yesterday and then Emily and I went to JoAnn Crafts and shopped. Bought some neat new scrapbooking paper packs and then went for ice cream cones. Nice day out with my teen girl.

Suzy's 8th birthday (Wed) was nice, but low-key. We ate out at a Chinese buffet after the field trip Tuesday, getting an early start on her celebration. She opened her presents in the morning, before Bob went to work, and her dear friend spent the night. James had a soccer game and the weather was lovely, so the girls went along and hung out at the field. We had homemade pizza afterwards and cake and ice cream. Suzy insisted on white cake with white frosting, but she didn't really eat it. She doesn't really like cake. Her friend stayed with us most of the day on Thursday and we went to a bunch of garage sales.

Here's some of what I bought: a cool lap desk, a mini fridge (for camping; $10!), some clothes and shoes for everyone, a purse (now I need a wallet), a smiley face coffee mug, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (VHS), Sequence game, some perler beads, a comfy office chair (but it doesn't fit at my desk; boo-hoo), a nice winter coat for Suzy for next year (or the year after). Probably some other stuff, but I don't know now.

Pictures from a Long Day

Here are the pictures I promised from yesterday's three activities - TV station field trip, Walmart with 6 kids, and raking service project. I posted more pix of the field trip over at Cornerstone too.

PBS, Walmart, Raking, Steak

I found pumpkins at Walmart today for $1.50.

Went on a field trip today to the PBS station in Flint. VERY cool field trip!!! I learned a lot. We were there for about 90 minutes! I took 2 of my friend Donna's kids since she is without a vehicle at present. So I had 6 kids (hers are 9 and 11). Then we went to Walmart and did about an hour of shopping.

After that, we headed over to a house in Lapeer to rake the yard for a service project for the girls' Tuesday night group. Yes, I made the boys help too. There was a good group of people there, not just us. It was COLD but not too bad. We got it all raked and bagged in an hour and then it started to rain/snow. Great timing!

Tonight was a relaxing night, with a late dinner. Bob broiled some steaks and baked some HUGE potatoes. Yum! I read about half of the latest Artemis Fowl book, which is overdue at the library.

Will hope to have pictures up here tomorrow of today's activities. Wow, it's midnight! Am I a pumpkin?

Hands-on Fun at the DPW

Where can you look down a sewer pipe, use a hand drill, sit in a police car, and see an excavator pick up a two ton log?

At the Department of Public Works! A nearby municipality had an open house today and invited our homeschool group to have a guided tour. It sounded somewhat interesting and it was free, so we went ahead and signed up.

Fascinating would have been a better description! What's better than listening to someone tell you about their job? Actually getting to TRY the same things the workers do! Our kids got to do the following:

• touch a myriad of different tools and utensils
• turn off and on streetlights using photosensitive eyes
• feel a cold copper pipe filled with water (pressure!)
• use a metal detector to find a water pipe
• put toilet paper down a sewer pipe and watch it on camera
• watch a video of an actual sewer pipe
• watch a sewer cleaning truck pick up a bowling ball with suction
• touch hard hats with 2 way radios inside
• peel off the vinyl on a diecut sign sample (and take it home!)
• see where all the road signs are made and stored (and touch them!)
• see an excavator pick up and drop (with an earthshaking THUD) a 2 ton log
• stand next to about 10 different kinds of large machinery or DPW vehicles
• walk under a car up on a lift (to be fixed) and see what the underside looks like
• see where the lights are installed on a police car
• see portable spike strips (for tire deflation in a chase)
• watch a guy climb a tree with gear
• see how a huge oak tree grows from a tiny acorn
• best of all - go up in a cherry picker (boom lift) one by one

This was a SUPERB field trip! One of my Top Ten! So well organized at the DPW! The workers at each station were personable and helpful and spoke at the kids' levels.

I am just amazed at how enjoyable and hands-on this learning day was!

The only downside? I forgot my camera. :-P

[UPDATE - A friend took some pictures and here are two of them.]

Sorting and Recycling

Watched 2 movies last night while sorting a HUMONGOUS pile of clothes. Oh my gosh. It took literally hours. I've gotten the boys to try on and pick what they want and put it in their drawers. Emily is half done and I'll finish her and do Suzy tomorrow.

We're off to a field trip at a recycling center and I'm going straight to work from there. Bob will meet me some place to get the kids.

Watching my Weight and the Weather - While Working and Wishing I Were at Walmart on Wednesday

Homeschool field trip today was to the candy factory. LONG video on how chocolate is grown and how chocolate candy is made. Then a far too quick walk down the 100 foot observation hallway where we could see into the "candy kitchen". A candy sample and then BAM - you're in the gift shop. I resisted buying any treats since I am 1) cheap and 2) watching my weight.

Speaking of watching my weight, I am participating in a Sister Weight Challenge for Sister Weekend (coming THIS WEEKEND! WOO HOO!) and I have lost some weight for it. Will post the exact number after I weigh on Friday.

But today, I went to the thrift store and bought 3 pair of jeans and all 3 were one size down from what I've been wearing. And my regular pants have been roomier than I like! Whee!

I am so exhausted. Worked last night and tonight mostly on my feet.

Dying my hair right now and then I'm showering and heading for bed. I've got to go to Walmart at some point before the weekend and I was thinking about tomorrow morning. HOWEVER, we are supposed to have wintry mix in the AM. Sigh.

Spring! Spring! Where art thou?