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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Homestead Homesick

 Guys I know it's been a while but honestly I just haven't thought of anything to say. Being in town has changed our lives so much. I think of things but their really not the same here. Our bubble has burst so to speak.

   But as the kids and I sit here doing our schoolwork and trying to find ways to keep our same old attitude. (Ya really not going so well.) But now I am inspired. We might look like a bunch of nuts, see some things never change, but I'll figure out how to keep our happy happy happy life outlook. (See what I did there, hillbillies, duck dynasty. Ya I'm a genius.) 

   It's really quite simple. I just have to start the glad game again. You know where you look for something to be glad about in every situation. For example, the house next door is the biggest in town, also the ugliest. We can be glad our home looks twice as good next to it. I have to watch the neighborhood kids suck face almost daily. So so glad my kids still find that disgusting.

   In all honesty Madison has made a couple of really great friends. (Can't say I like their parents. Okay I like most the parents.) The fact that she only has to go next door and there's a gaggle of giggling girls running around in between three yards is pretty cool. (See that glad came easily. If you practice it does get easier.)

   I sure hope it gets easier for real. Right now I just miss our homestead. 

  

Thursday, October 17, 2013

kids real superpower

     Everyone knows children possess selective hearing. One second they can't hear you repeatedly saying pick up your socks, the next they can hear ice cream being scooped a mile away. (Martin's words from a few years ago that have always stuck with me.) But until recently I would have believed that was their dominating selective power. My children of course love to open my eyes to their truth.

     It started quietly and snuck up on me. Surprising right? Most the time it's more of a knock to the back of the head. See public school gave me two things 1) my children test out in the genius level 2) the public school thought after a year that their tests were wrong.  In three years I have proven 1) the schools test are pretty accurate 2) the teachers are not geniuses...but my children can really make you want to pull your hair out at times.

     I have spent the last three years throwing myself wholeheartedly into the world of homeschooling. Okay so the first couple of months we might have slept in...and stayed in our pjs way too late...and watched a whole lot of pbs. Hey they were in Kindergarten and Preschool neither technically were even the 7 year old state required school age. 

    Point being we've been at this a while. Most days are typical. Kids do reading and group spelling while I make breakfast. We do math and science. Break for lunch and start in with geography or history. Usually finishing with asl. Lots of days we end up sidetracked into science yet again.  The kids have "homework"
we prefer the term independent work. It earns them electronics time if completed in a timely manner. (Don't tell my brother but I also read the dictionary to the kids. I believe in a superb vocabulary.)

     Lately though the independent work has become a major competition between the kids. They sneak their workbooks under the table trying to complete a page or two during class or reading while I cook. I got so frustrated I banned them for a week trying to get our class time focused. HA!

Me: Martin what place value do you start multiplication from?

Martin: ....uh? The spongy part.

Me: No we're actually into math here. Madison what place value do you start all math problems from?

Madison: *whispering* no you spell it P-U-

Me: MADISON! DEGAN! Put that up! What place value do you start with in this problem?

Degan: I thought we were doing science?

Me: We are trying to review place value if y'all want to participate.

*Degan raises his hand*

Me: Yes, Degan?

Degan: Can I play on the tablet after school first?

Me: You all fail and I am sending you back to kindergarten.

Martin: *rolls eyes* Like that would even work mom. We'd out read Bella.

     Now we've went through place values every year and whenever one reaches a math milestone that requires refreshers. So do I doubt my children KNOW what place value to start at? No. But then you get the flip side of selective intelligence.

     Let me set the scene. My children sit around the dining room table workbooks out. Madison is doing a worksheet on similes. Martin on possessive nouns. Degan is just speeding through his workbook.

Madison: No. You're wrong. They are different!

Martin: Are you kidding me?! They're just metaphors of similarities.

Madison: No they're an exaggerated comparison.

     Yeah. That's really what I walked into. They were arguing over the definition of a simile. I called my mom and she said, "I wasn't aware they knew those words." Lol. Yeah and more. But their father says its annoying to have a conversation with someone throwing out ten dollar words and they get tired of explaining themselves to their friends, so they tend to use them just to annoy each other and win an argument.  But my question is why can't they even follow a subject change in class yet manage to confuse adults with things they throw out. It's simple their real superpower is SELECTIVE INTELLIGENCE! 

One mystery solved. Onto the next. Till next time y'all.



Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Igors and Knights

         Floggers Toggers Ugly Froggers! That was how today's adventure started. Hold up that's not true. It actually started with reading time. Yesterday they all got new library books. Bella found one she has always loved Alice the Fairy. As the older three did independent reading Bella and I read through her book after which she sat beside me reading it.

       Then it was a short break that turned into an amazing adventure. While I was helping Madison I hear the magic words. Looking up we see Martin being bopped in the nose with a pencil and that Bella has set up a fairy lab. (She wants to be a permanent fairy.) Within a few minutes Madison is sitting next to Bella in the lab giving her pointers on wand technique and pronunciation importance (goodness forbid you accidentally end up turning your brother into a lima bean instead of lama.)

       Somewhere in the midst of turning her brothers ugly (Madison's response is, "Bella you really think an ugly spell is necessary? I think they got it covered.") Bella went from a fairy to a witch. Not sure when it happened all I know is she ended up with an igor (Martin,) a wicked shopkeeper (Degan,) and a spy sabotaging her behind her back (otherwise known as Madison.)

       Somehow as I sat at the table I became the magical information desk. Soon they were bidding dead man's toes and dragon tongue for the many useful ingredients needed in an all important and top secret potion.

       "Mwhahahhahahhahhaha" rang out from a high pitched squeaky little witch. "I have completed it. My master piece! Mwhahahahaha!" I don't know bout y'all but when a midget five year old starts looking and sounding like that your best bet is to hide.

      I asked her what was in this master piece and she looked at me oh so seriously and said, " NO! It's a secret and it's mine. ALL MINE!!"

      Right about the time the words left her mouth her two igors rebel (Degan is now one as well, in trade for dragon tongue pizza I believe.) They grab her and wrestle her to the ground and take her potion. They sit on her and take drinks in turn. Bella cries out ," NO!!! MY READING POTION!!! NO FAIR YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO READ!!"

      Where as the igors realizing the error of their ways helps the evil witch up and gives her the last drop of potion and are transformed into knights. Bella said there wasn't enough potion to really make her read but she thinks it put a few words in her head. And Madison sits on the sofa petting her cat saying "I'll get you my pretty and your little knights too."

     I don't know about y'all but I can't wait till their next installment. Tell next time y'all.