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.

Getting it DONE

I haven't been blogging but I've been doing quite a lot. And none of the things I actually HAD planned for the week happened, like Movie in the Park. lol But here's what DID keep me occupied....

Soccer

• Returned an AWFUL LOT of soccer phone calls and then returned even more
• Updated the soccer coach list and the website
• Registered several new soccer players, several of them in person
  
• Ordered a batch of soccer uniforms
• Downloaded Openoffice and Firefox onto the soccer laptop (yes, this job comes with a laptop!)
  

Homeschool Group

• Arranged a field trip (free!) to see the King Tut exhibit at the Indianapolis Children's Museum
• Dropped off a couple books to co-op teachers
• Organized the homeschool group's storage area at church (along with two friends)
• Updated the homeschool group's policy statement (with one of my co-leaders)
• Called several people on the co-op waiting list to confirm their interest
  

Exercise

• Went to kickboxing class two mornings (one hour each) - Anyone want to come along?
  
• Jogged/Walked two mornings (2.5 miles each time, can now run ONE MILE without stopping - Can you believe it?)
• Went for a four-mile bike ride with some of the kids (all good except for that last hill - eeeeeek)
• Bought an exercise ball at a yard sale for FIFTY CENTS! Whee!
  

Errands and more!

• Bought David a pair of running shoes and a pair of soccer cleats
  
• Ordered a wireless router and then set it up (now we have a wireless network! Whee!)
• Called David's soccer coach to let him know he'll be missing practices next week
  
• Called Verizon Wireless to arrange a back-dated text messaging plan (now you can text me!)
  
• Went grocery shopping at Meijer and Walmart
• Did a MILLION loads of laundry, all of it hung on the clothesline except one load
• Sent a resume for a teaching job
• Stopped at Arby's Thursday (TWO times) for FREE sandwiches because the Tigers hit three home runs in their last game (Thanks to Maryann for the tip! You have to print out the box scores.)
• Went to a lot of garage sales
• Got David all packed for his missions trip
  

FUN!

• Watched Slumdog Millionaire and King Arthur and Knowing and one episode of John Adams (The only one I really liked was John Adams.)
  
• Listened to several disks of The Fiery Cross (a couple of them while grocery shopping). LOVE IT!
  
• Went to two libraries
• Spent Tuesday afternoon visiting with two friends (and our 12 kids)
• Visited another friend overnight on Wednesday and spent all day Thursday with her and another friend (and our 11 kids)
• Saw a movie at the theater Thursday night with a bunch of girlfriends (WITHOUT our kids, except for one aged 20 lol)
• Spent Friday afternoon at the beach with a couple friends (and our 12 kids - Notice a trend?)

Notice there is NO writing or querying on this list of completed tasks. NEXT WEEK FOR SURE! (Someone hold me accountable instead of inviting me to do fun stuff! lol)

Stylin' Suzy, Playing in Puddles

Thursday I had intended to go to some garage sales, but it was very very windy. I didn't look forward to fighting the breeze so I decided to put it off for a day. So, Thursday we hunkered down in the house. At least until soccer practice. Both James and Suzy had a 6pm practice scheduled. It was still rather windy, but it was warmer and sunny, so practice was pleasant.

The garage sales occupied quite a chunk of Friday. I am not an early morning garage sale shopper, though. I still find good stuff! I came home with quite a few items of clothing, mostly for Suzy. Found a book, a VHS movie (A Walk in the Clouds - love it!), a fitted sheet for one of the boy's beds, a pair of winter boots for Suzy, a couple computer games, a turntable for my spices, a couple of art smocks, and a bunch of other stuff. James got a pair of heelies that he was pretty excited about and you should have seen how Suzy was stylin' by the time she got home! Oh wait, here's a photo. The shirt is the only thing left of what she was wearing when we left the house. lol

Also, I bought a huge box of Polly Pocket stuff for Suzy's birthday. (Yes, we do secondhand gifts here - more bang for your buck. Which would you rather have? One piddling Polly Pocket set for $15 or a huge box of it for $15? Well, I know which my daughter would rather have! lol) Also got her a dressing table with mirror and stool. It's white metal, but Bob is going to paint it pink for her and we're going to recover the seat. She is THRILLED and doesn't care a bit that she knows what she's getting. Will post pix of those on her b-day.

By the way, three of the kids went with me to the sales since they had accomplished five days' worth of lessons in four days. One had to stay behind and work to avoid being grounded for the weekend.

After the garage sales, I heated up a couple frozen pizzas and moved on to part two of our day - taking Emily to a party. A trip to Walmart was necessary beforehand and then on to the birthday girl's house. Suzy and I were invited to hang out for a bit, so we did, watching the gift opening, sharing the delish chocolate cake and ice cream. (Have you ever had Drumstick flavor ice cream? Like the cones, but actually mixed in? Yum!) Then we played kickball until dark and headed home.

Today Suzy had 9:00 soccer. The fields were even wetter than last week, but this time around, the league allowed the coaches to make the decision. So we played! No more rescheduling, please! The kids were wet wet wet! So was David, who wiped out before the game. lol He always ref's my games for me.

James had a 10:30 game and by this time, it was windy and rainy. Lovely soccer weather. But he played great, with at least one assist and some GREAT defensive play! Both the kids' teams tied up at 1-1.

Can you believe I haven't taken any photos of spring soccer? Coaching messes that up big time!

I signed James and Suzy up for soccer for next year. They asked me about coaching and I declined. Be proud of me! However, I am considering a registrar position which would be RIGHT up my alley with data entry and organizing. Pray about that, if you would. It is a big commitment, but one I think I'd enjoy and excel at.

Emily has been napping since she came home, for a couple hours, but I've rousted her and made her do her chores. Kids who stay up all night still have to participate in family activities. :-) I'm thinking she'll be early to bed.

Bob's going to head out to a perennial sale soon, in hopes of scoring some nice plants. I also want some LILACS cut and in vases here. I hope he brings some of those back from somewhere!

We have one more week of lessons and then we're calling our school year complete! We will continue to work on Bible, math, reading, and writing through the summer, as well as a unit on map skills and one on child survival skills, as well as some nature study.

Suzy turns seven this Tuesday!

Oh yeah, one more thing. David ordered his Tracfone this week. Yes, we allowed it. However, if it's abused? It's confiscated. No questions.

Several good friends are going through some awful things lately. I'm amazed at how much tragedy surrounds us. I'm spending a lot of time praying.

Trying to get perky

Here I sit with a cup of coffee, trying to get perky.

Heh.

Today is busy to begin, and not-so-busy later. James' soccer game was cancelled, as it was scheduled for 9 and the U10 fields are apparently mucky. I haven't heard anything about Suzy's 10:30 game, so I assume it is still on. After the game I have to head over to the curriculum sale, where my friend Darlene is manning our combined table. There'll be an hour or so left of the sale, and then David and I will help tear down.

After that, I'm heading to the grocery store to ensure that there is yummy food in the house for Mother's Day that *I* do not have to cook. I have to exercise for 30 minutes today and plan my LAST Sunday School lesson for this year. Then I can relax.

Shall I back up a couple days?

On Wednesday afternoon, I met with my SOF coleaders at a coffee shop to discuss the way we'll divide up responsibilities for the upcoming year. Suzy came along with me since her siblings were all at art class.

Thursday most of the kids did double lessons so they could have Friday off. In the evening, both Suzy and James had soccer games and they both WON! This is the first game Suzy's team has won (1-0) this spring, so they were really thrilled. Suzy was energetic! James' team won 4-2 and he played solidly.

On Friday we headed out to some garage sales minus David and Bob. We didn't come home with anything earthshattering, but got a few bargains - another beanbag to sit on, a jean jacket for Bob, 2 shirts for Suzy and 1 for me, some books (of course! including a hardcover copy of one I lent out and never got back), a VCR (yay! Even though David did fix ours.), and a cute pair of earrings. I think that's it, but maybe I'm missing something. Oh yeah, Suzy bought two purses - for a dime each! And Emily hit up every free box she saw. lol Sorry, no pix!

In preparation for the book sale, I culled a few books from my overcrowded shelves. In the process, I also organized the 15 shelves of (mostly kid's) books I have upstairs. I don't know why, but the kids never seem to put a book back where it came from! Go figure. I threatened decapitation if they mess with the current organization.

In the evening, David and I headed over to the book sale to help set up and shop the other seller's tables - really the whole reason why I signed up for a table - the presale! I didn't find a whole lot though, a little disappointing. As a thank you for helping and tearing down, I offered to take David to a movie and he leaped at the chance so we went to a 9:40 showing.

OK, I better get off here and marshall the troops. Chores must be done!

Thrift Store Haul

Thrift Store Haul

Spent two or three hours at the thrift store today with David, Emily, and Suzy and came home with the following:

David
-2 pair lounge pants (pajama)
-1 fall jacket, reversible
-2 church shirts
-1 pair church pants

Emily
-1 pr winter pajamas
-3 dresses
-1 pr jeans
-2 pr pants
-2 t-shirts
-3 long sleeve shirts

James
-1 pr church shoes

Suzy
-1 pr church shoes
- 1 dress for next summer (she has plenty of fall/winter dresses already)
-2 sundresses (or jumpers) with tees to wear underneath
-3 t-shirts
-1 skirt with tee to match
-1 pr pants

For myself I got a dress that I hope to makeover into a Renaissance Festival dress. We'll see if I can actually accomplish it or if it even works, but I saw it and it screamed "COSTUME!!!" at me. If I don't use it, I'm sure someone here will eventually.

On the way home, we stopped at a couple garage sales. Our finds: a fake plant with lots of greenery and hyacinths in a basket (just right for the top of my bookshelf; it's been nagging me to put something on it), some 7x7 Creative Memories page protectors (I think I have one of these albums), some girl toys, and, best of all, a VERY nice bike for Suzy for $20. She's happy. It is slightly big for her, so by next year it should fit her great and will fit her for 2-3 years, I imagine.

Great bargain day!

Yard Sale Bargains

Garage sales were few and far between today, but I got one of the best deals I ever have found!

I got brand-new, in-the-box, still-sealed, brand-name PRINTER cartridges for MY PRINTER! I got one black and one COLOR! WOO-HOO!

Not only were they brand new, they were only $6 for both! The price tags on them were from Radio Shack and totaled $54.98. (I know they're cheaper at Walmart, but not by a whole lot!)

I have gone without color ink for about a year now, maybe longer. My black ink cartridge was NEARLY empty, so this was EXCELLENT timing!

I also got a winter coat for Emily ($3), a cute silvery basket (25 cents), a brand-new folding umbrella (25 cents), a soft-side lunch box cooler (50 cents, and it had about 37 cents inside when I opened it!) and 6 books ($1). The girls got some free stuff at one sale.

Polka Saturday

Went to some garage sales yesterday and some today. Stopped at the grocery store and am heating up some frozen pizza. After we eat, we are going to the water park for the first of many visits this summer.

Tonight is the first meeting of our new Jane Austen Book Club. I have not finished our first book choice - Emma. I am finding it very slow going. I have heard from others that they are feeling the same way, so at least I won't be alone. I have rented the DVD of Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow in the title role). I have seen it once before, but it was a while ago. I had hopes of watching it in preparation for tonight, but it doesn't look like that will happen.

There is polka music playing, which is very trying to my patience, but apparently is to the liking of the male adult in the house. They play it all afternoon every Saturday. Happy happy joy joy.

We have something new. If you are on facebook, freecycle, or Seeds of Faith, you may already know about it. The rest of you will have to wait a bit. And then, you'll think I've lost my mind. ROFL

Summer Off....and an Incentive

Usually we continue our home education year-round, but this year we're going to be formally done the Friday before Memorial Day. :::cheers::::

We won't begin again until after Labor Day. ::::cheers again:::: And I really hope to be here full time with my babies by then. Pray, pray pray!

This has been the most difficult year of homeschooling I have ever done. Most of it has been merely focusing on the basics - Bible, Math, Reading, Writing. And that's ok! I really am ok with it (even if you are not! lol), but I want to get back to my more complete version of learning at home next year.

To keep the kids learning over the summer months, I have introduced an incentive plan. (It's not a "bribe" since the dictionary tells me that a bribe is "an inducement to dishonest behavior," which doing lessons certainly is NOT.)

The kids can earn money for each lesson they complete - up to 2 math lessons per week, up to 3 hours of instructional reading per week (from a list I will provide and including journalling about the reading), and up to one personal letter written correctly per week.

They are all quite fascinated by the idea, especially the older two. The money will likely be used for garage saling, since we try to do that once every week.

They will mostly be able to do their work independently, leaving my mornings free for WRITING.

From One Thing to Another

1:40 AM Head hits pillow
7:09:00 Alarm goes off (Note that is less than 6 hours of sleep)
7:09:05 I hit snooze
7:15 Bob says, "What time were you planning to get up?"
7:19 I roll out of bed and start getting ready for the day of soccer games.
8:15 David, Emily, and I drive out of the driveway.
8:26 We arrive at the soccer fields and I push Emily out of the car.
8:33 I drop David at HIS soccer fields and head back to Emily's game.
8:45 I plop into my chair at Emily's game and sit back to watch her team win 8-5. She kicks the ball a couple times!
9:45 Emily and I head over to David's game where we watch the last half. I overhear a couple of fathers positively discussing David's soccer skills at the game and get a warm glow.
10:35 David trudges to the car, all upset because his team lost 7-2 (or something like that). I tell him what I have overheard but he doesn't cheer up.
10:45 Arrive at the optician and get the bad news that because of our insurance changes, Emily has fewer choices for covered glasses. I decide to wait until I talk to the opthamologist before ordering replacement glasses for her. (Hers are broken and repaired with tape.)
11:05 Arrive at the library (in the soccer town) and go to their book sale, where I find a few things. Sign out several DVDs and books.
11:30 Arrive back at the soccer fields to watch the last quarter of Suzy's game. (Bob brought Suzy and James to the field.) Her team lost and she was upset, but she played well regardless.
11:50 Hop back into the car and go looking for garage sales, which are harder to find than I imagined they would be. Give the kids sandwiches that Bob made. Stop for gas (eek! $3.83!) Drive around some more. (Promised the kids garage saling for whomever helps with soccer field cleanup at 2:30.) Bob leaves and goes back home for some alone time.
1:15 Arrive BACK at the soccer fields for James' game. Score 3-1 our favor. His coach complimented him on his playing today.
2:30 Start emptying the trash cans and collecting the signs at the field. (Our volunteer contribution)
3:00 Leave the field and head to the grocery store.
3:45 Leave the grocery store and find more garage sales. Give the kids fudgesicles.
4:30 Stop at the pharmacy and then find more garage sales.
About 5:00 - Arrive home and unload the car.
5:10 - Pour a Diet Coke and sit at the computer, ignoring the fact that the house is a wreck and that all the kids are filthy. Watch the kids rollerblading on new rollerblades ($1) and playing new plug and play video game ($2) and sorting through large bin of nail polish and fripperies ($1 and free). Listen to David mowing the lawn.

The rest of the evening will involve:

• Baths for everyone
• Laying out church clothes
• Heating up frozen pizza (unless Bob plans to cook out)
• Doing some speed-cleaning (everybody)
• A movie for the kids (if they are quick)
• or early bedtime (if they aren't)
• Dan In Real Life DVD for me

Supposed to rain all day tomorrow. Sounds like a good day for SPEED RACER. lol