Family Project - Tire Swings!

This week we decided on a couple of family projects. We wanted more things to do in the back yard and we have an enormous Chinese Elm tree that we thought might make a great place to hang a couple of swings. We decided tire swings might be the most economical that would also hold the weight of my growing teens and any other children that grace our home.

We took a trip to Discount Tire and asked for some free tires, which they were very happy to give to us. Next, we found some websites that gave instruction about building two types of swings. We made a list of the hardware we need and took off to Home Depot one day after school hours were over. We couldn't manage all the hardware needed to make the horizontal tire swing, but we did get the vertical tire swing up.

Way to go Engineer Knot Maker Chris! He tied all the knots. All Marly and I did was help lift and hold the tire.

Christian's Merit Badges

Switching troops during the life of a scout can be a tricky thing! I do not have the cards for all the merit badges that Christian completed from our old troop. He finished First Aide, Emergency Preparedness and Citizenship in the Community before we moved, three of the "required for Eagle" merit badges.

At scout camp in our new ward, Christian completed: Pioneering, Personal Management, Photography, Bird Studies, Mammal Studies, and Fish and Wildlife Management. With all these, he should have finished his Star. But, we cannot get all the information together to prove it. Kind of a bummer since now he will have to wait until the next Court of Honor (if I can get all the info together or he will need to do them again).

Christian had a great time at camp and came back with a ton of stories. Our new troop has many good qualities. The Court of Honor was out in the woods in a beautiful spot at Shultz Pass. I guess living in the woods brings it close enough to have events like this frequently...and only 15 minutes from home!

The only drawback is some of the discrimination going on (not just in scouts, but in Flagstaff in general). We have been termed "Phoenicians" because we moved up here from the Valley. That term brings with it many derogatory comments about how silly or weird "Phoenicians" are...and since we are considered in that category...well, let's just say there have been some hurt feelings. I fully admit to being shocked by many things in our new environment and making comments about them has brought some of this on us (my mistake). The leaders wonder why my son does not care about scouts anymore and the entire ward is now making comments about how Christian never smiles...well, he used to smile all the time! Maybe they need to look in the mirror to find the source of his unhappiness.

April Showers? or Just Windy?

April Showers Anyone?

Where are the April Showers? We have either had snow or blasting wind that closes highways and rattles windows at night. I do not remember so much wind the last time we lived here. I know the weather patterns seem to have changed a little bit in the last few years...but this is ridiculous! I hope we get a few showers in to help keep the forest green over the summer. We saw a lot of smoke yesterday due to a forest fire.

Finding Joy!

It was one of my goals this year to focus on happiness and joy in life. I can say that I am happy, even through the trials and tribulations. I have learned, thanks to previous trials and tribulations, to be patient and realize that things could be a lot worse. Really, things are very good! After watching April General Conference, I felt that despite our economic hardships, everything else is really, REALLY GOOD!

We are very busy in our new home with getting the land "fire safe". The previous occupants let the back 3/4 acre become very overgrown. We have worked on the weeds, but the wind keeps blowing our neatly piled weeds around. We have tried to burn the weeds but cannot because of high winds, I had to get a burn permit and I call every day to see if we can burn. So, we stopped working on that for now and pray that the winds will cease long enough for us to get the weeds gone!

The flower bed is planted with seeds and Marly diligently waters it every day. Our eight chicks have more than doubled in size and are now living in their remodeled coop. We do not let them outside much yet because we are afraid they will blow away! They are not big enough to handle the wind yet.

We found a local homeschool group...there are five other homeschool families in our ward alone. We have been excited to have so many "close by"...meaning within 20 minutes drive. LOL! There are TONS of teens here. There are 40 young women and about 15 young men in our ward. They have all welcomed Marly and Chris with open arms and invited them to lots of things already. The boys are particularly happy to have another boy so they are not so outnumbered.

I hope to get some more pics up soon. I have just been so busy...

2009 - Week 5 - This Week in Homeschooling

In addition to Marly and Chris's babysitting job, Chris has been sick with a sinus infection this week. The level of his education was greatly effected this week and we hope he will get better soon!

Kid's School:

• Devotionals - Gospel Principles lesson 12 - We spent the entire week on the Atonement.
  
• Classes/Clubs Attended - Principles of Leadership
• Read Aloud Book - Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and my kids THINK they have chores)
  
• SAT Prep vocabulary & spelling words - Review last week's words - New Words - winsome, meager, haughty, foster
  
• Grammar & Writing - Journal Entries on each book read - The Winston Grammar Program: Basic Level - Word Roots Level A A1 & A2
  
• Science - The Human Body Unit - Respiratory System - Usborne Science Encyclopedia pg. 358-359, How the Body Works pg. 69-77, Human Anatomy Coloring Book p. 218-23 (College level book - we do not memorize the terminology, but the detailed diagrams are really good).
  
• P.E. - Daily dog walks. Chris was too sick to do much else.
  
• Math
• Marly: Math-U-See - Epsilon - Chapters 9-11
  
• Chris: Math-U-See - Delta - Unit 2 Test, online math drills
  
• Individual Reading
• Marly: The Story of the World: Vol.2 2-18, Molly Moon Stops the World, Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure, The Hounds of the Baskerville's (1st half)
  
• Chris: The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Vol. 1, 1-38 thru 1-39 (1st half)
  

Mom's School:

• Reading list - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (still working on this one), The Love Dare (a 40 day challenge so I'll be reading this one every day for awhile - see this movie "Fireproof"), Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning (studying up on the levels of Scholar Phase to present to the family next week)
  
• Projects - cleaning and perfecting my bread making skills. See my favorite recipe at The Solar Cook.
  

Spring is for Science!

While most of the country is still pretty cold, we have had 80 degree temperatures this week. We have taken advantage of this fantastic weather and been enjoying the great outdoors. The bikes are getting used frequently, the dog is ecstatic getting so many walks, and the windows are thrown open to receive the gentle breeze. I love this time of year and hope the desert heat stays away for quite a while. My Fibromyalgia pain decreases during this time as the cold leaves. My joints feel better already!

Marly's Project

Last year we started using the Square Foot Garden method. We were successful with our radishes and strawberries, but not our carrots or lettuce. We are starting again. Marly has chosen this as her project. She tenderly cares for the boxes we made last year and we are clearly another section for two more 4' x 4' boxes. She researched and found planting guides for our area and has created a plan for the planting seasons this year.

Chris's Project

Chris has been progressively working on learning about electricity. Last year he made a complete circuit and this year he has been building several types of circuits using an Electronics Snap Kit. We purchased a kit called Crystal Radio, but have been unable to get it to work well (I do not recommend this kit). His project of game programming and HTML is still ongoing.

Sam's Project

Our stake is preparing for a Pioneer Trek. Sam is making most of her own clothing for this event that will take place this summer. We are starting with her apron. She has been on a trek previously and is very sure about what she wants this time. I'm happy to see her geared up to be an experienced trekker!

Homeschooling 4 - 5 Kids

Adventures in Homeschooling! My sister-in-law, who also homeschools, is on mandatory bed rest for a few weeks. She is pregnant and there is a hole in the placenta. They lost a baby in August 2007 also. So, she is an at-risk pregnancy in a couple ways right now. I offered to take her kids for the next few weeks to homeschool along with my own. Sam was home because she had her wisdom teeth out (poor baby!) and she schooled right along with us, working on an online world history class and studying for her other classes.

It is easier than I though it would be. I feel comfortable enough in educating the kids that it was easy to find things for everyone to work on and they have a great time!

I used to stress myself out with complicated curriculum, both public online school and curriculum I purchased. Now I've worked to simplify our education by focusing on a good math program, classic reading materials, and the interests of the children in science, history, and PE. My children are becoming more focused on their own education and actually OWNING it, rather than doing it because they were told to. They chose their own reading materials from the classics list and from the racks at the local library. I have some unit studies and lapbooking materials for times when they just need a creative outlet to show what they are learning.

Here are what we are educating our children with right now:

• Teaching Textbooks - Awesome math program!
• Classics list #1 - Thomas Jefferson Education List
  
• Classics list #2 - 1,000 Good Books List (by grades)
  
• Old Testament Lapbook - (history)
  
• Book of Mormon Lapbook
  
• Discover the Scriptures - Book of Mormon & Life of Thomas S. Monson
  
• Science Kits - Electronics Snap Kit, Froguts, Astronomy for Kids, and the Science Channel.
• Kid's personal projects - Chris is working on a website and Gamemaker. Marly is working on knitting, cooking, and crocheting. Sam is sewing her clothes for an upcoming Pioneer Trek reenactment.
  

Changes & Burnout

At least I like changes in general or all the changes in my life would drive me batty. I have moved something like 25 times in my life (which is not every year just in case you thought I was still in my 20's ha-ha - NOT!) I can typically accept change, in fact I sometimes crave change.

Changes
Christian is back at traditional home school. The online school was not flexible enough for him and was not going to allow us to catch-up like I originally thought they would. Still, it is a good choice for Marlayna so she is sticking with Arizona Connections Academy. She has different teachers for each subject (just like regular middle school) and reports directly to them. I do not grade anything! Wow, what a time saver.

Earlier this year I put Christian in the local public school, which did not go well, and now the online schools we have tried did not go well. Christian wants to be home and I want him home, so we will just have to go the route of traditional home school where I chose the curriculum that fits him. Luckily, we started out the year that way and so I have all the books. Some of these changes also had to do with my dear hubby, Mike. He was behind some of the suggestions to put Christian into public school. I do not think he was wrong, just maybe now he sees what is really needed. I can't blame him for not understanding because he is not the one who educates the kids. Mike has always been supportive, but he saw me struggling...which leads to my next subject...and wanted to ease my burdens. Thank goodness I have a husband who loves me enough to make these types of suggestions to save my sanity.

Burnout
I am facing serious burnout right now. I am a part-time student, full-time mom, full-time wife, full-time home schooler, have two callings, deal with teens, and have Fibromyalgia (which the change in weather is making me ache). Enough said?!? Not to mention all the car-pooling from our middle-of-nowhere location to town which eats up hours of my day (not to mention my gas!). Teens and kids need constant chauffeuring. I am behind on my classes, yet I am so stressed I find myself needing to just sit an veg, which of course, makes me feel guilty. I do not know how those of you with 5, 6, and 7 kids can do all that you do. I am thinking that now is not the time for me to be continuing my own education.

Christmas Stress
Usually I have STARTED shopping for Christmas by now. I wish I had because that worry is in the back of my mind all day. I cannot find a Wii! I am driving myself crazy trying to find one. I am thinking we will not get one even though that was the major item the kids all want for the family. Maybe I'll wrap up a big I.O.U. in a box and we'll have to buy one after Christmas when we can find one. I am also thinking of doing my shopping largely online. The cost of shipping is often less than my time and gas diving around trying to locate everything. Not to mention all the websites that have free shipping if one purchases "x" amount. If you know of any sites with free shipping right now, please post!

Shopping with a Pre-Teen Boy

OK - Christian has the least clothes of anybody in our home. He is also, believe it or not, one of the P I C K I E S T!!! This is what I hear when I buy him clothes without taking him with me...

"This tag is scratching me all the time." - So, I cut the tags off, but he finds something else wrong with the shirt.

"My pants are too tight." - They are not that tight, I can stick my finger between his belly and the waist band. My clothes are much tighter than that since gaining weight and being to0 cheap to buy new fat clothes.

"I hate the 'bumpies' in my socks." - His feet really smell now that he is starting to wear real shoes instead of flippies. So I buy new thin, low profile, ankle socks that are $3 a pair and he hates those too. Marlayna gained some new socks that day (and she loves them - go figure).

"I don't like jeans. They make lines on my belly." - Huh? All my clothes leave lines on my body. Why? Because I'm too fat! He is lucky he is not a girl or he would have the saggiest boobs in the world because I cannot imagine him managing to wear bras.

After listening to him complain about everything I buy him I decided he is going with me today to shop and this is what I hear...

"I hate shopping! Can't you just pick out the clothes for me?"

To which I reply, "You hate all the clothes I pick out for you."

"Nu-uh, I like everything you buy."

At this point I list off all the things I have given away, taken back, or is sitting in his drawer that he never wears.

(In a whining tone) "I don't want to go shopping! I'll wear whatever you buy. I promise."

*Sigh* "Nope! You are going with me and I don't want to hear anymore!"

Who thought boys where so difficult to shop with! He goes with me and it takes less than 30 minutes to pick out and try on 2 pairs of pants and 2 shirts. Miraculous! We bought clothes!