The Calm after the Storm

Okay, so I am feeling better after my little rant yesterday. I took some time for myself during the day and looked at some of the blogs from other homeschooling moms and it made me feel better that there are other moms out there experiencing the same problems that I do as a homeschooler:) I think it also helped that my kids could kind of sense that Mommy was at the boiling point and they were able to contain their usual squabbles. Wolfie even asked me later in the day if I was feeling any better......my sweet kind boy.....

While blogging, I came across another photography challenge blog and I added it to my blog. It is called "You Capture" and on Wed she will post an "assignment" for the week and you link her blog to your pictures using Mr. Linky. I thought it was another great website for inspiration on photography and I put a link to it in my sidebar.

I finally got a battery for my camera and I have pictures to share so I am going to work over the weekend to get my blog updated.

Pity Party

I have to admit that I have been in a funk. This doesn't usually happen to me until late July/August but it's come earlier this year. I really dislike hot weather (unless I'm at the beach). I'm just much happier in the cooler months. During summer here in the South, I dream about living in Oregon with their cooler humidity free weather :) I also think it is because of all the stress with my family right now (my dad is getting ready to have triple bypass surgery) and the fact that I think I have a sinus infection. Of course, I am refusing to do the logical thing and go to the doctor for some medicine. But, I hate taking antibiotics because my body always says "nope-been there done that"and I break into a rash no matter what kind they give me.

So here I sit miserable..... While having this pity party, I have been very frustrated and short tempered. I'm having thoughts like "why am I homeschooling these children? I don't even like them at the moment!" I start having doubts and wonder if I should put them back in school in the fall. Join up with society and get back on the hamster wheel with everyone else? I would have more time to myself and my house would be organized and clean all the time. I could play tennis like all of the other homemakers who's kids are in school....(I admit I get pangs of jealousy whenever I see a mom in a tennis skirt). Maybe I would enjoy my kids more if I was away from them for part of the day?

But now as I write this, I'm thinking of all the things I would miss. That early morning cuddle with my youngest, watching my 8 year old as a new idea finally clicks for her, seeing my two girls play together and listening to the wild imaginative stories they can create with their dolls, my son's endless questions about history as he trys to put it all together in his mind, the closeness they all share as siblings, the freedom to take the day off and go on a fieldtrip or on a nature hike. None of this would happen if they were in school. Every morning would be a race to make it to school on time and when they got home, they would be out the door to play with friends. I probably wouldn't even get a response to how was your day? I would get my wish. I would have some alone time. But I don't think I would "know" my children the way that I do now.....

Sometimes, I just need to remind myself how important it is to live in the moment. My philosophy since my illness is to spend as much time as I can with the one's I love today, because today is a gift and tomorrow is ... well...uncertain....I know this better than anyone. I don't know if I am going to be here to see all of their milestones. I just want to be able to share everything I can with them while we are together. So, I think I need to "buck" up and keep plugging along. Call the doctor and make an appointment (ugh!!). It's going to be a great day today. I think after I go to the doctor, I will take the kids on a nature hike or to my parent's for a swim. I think we all could use a little fun today.

4 Little Men and Girly Twins

I added a link to my blog today. It is a mom with six kids who introduces photography challenges. I thought it sounds like a great idea, if I ever have my camera working again :(
Check it out if you have the time.........

Carolina Aviation Museum

We went on a field trip with the Legonators to the Carolina Aviation museum. Wolfie is in a Lego club and they are studying transportation. It was fascinating to see all of the antique planes and helicoptors. We saw everything from World War II all the way up to the Iraq War. The kids were really enthralled and I was surprised at how interested Princess was in the cockpits of the planes. Future pilot? Time will tell....Sorry I don't have any pictures. I have been unable to find my camera charger and the other one is packed in a box in Raleigh (my inlaws are redoing their kitchen). I feel lost with out it! I may have to bite the bullet and buy another one:) Funny Note: my mom and niece went with us on the tour, and I think our tour guide was flirting with my mom! He was an older gentleman, retired air force pilot, about her age, and he kept asking her questions (which she got right, comes from living with an ex marine!) I think he was enthralled that she knew so much about the military :) He even followed us to where we went for lunch! Too funny!!! I think it did wonders for my mom. She has been really down because of the business failing and having to sell her house. It brought a bright spot to her day. We giggled about it on the ride home :-)

Over the summer, the legonators are going to begin work on a robot that they have to put together and take to competitions. You order the kit from Lego Corporation and then the "teams" put it together. In the corporate world, you have to brain storm with your coworkers and share ideas, so Lego put this program together to teach the kids about teamwork. Their hope is that this program will give the kids an understanding of what it will be like to be "all grown up" and allow them to work on their social skills of working together. Wolfie is very excited and will be allowed to bring the robot home for a week to work on individually. I will have to lock up his sister's that week! Hopefully by then my camera will be operational so I can post pictures :0

Frenzied Scheduling!

It has been so long since I have posted :( I have been so busy with school planning and end of school thingy's(Grace). I have been working like a crazy woman trying to get everything in place so we can school over the summer. We are so far behind in our current schedule and it is stressing me out! We have been taking a few weeks off lately because of the nice weather. I would rather be free now than over the HOT summer. That's why I kind of decided to school year round. We can take off time during milder days and at the busy Christmas season this way.

I have been working on a new system for the kids. It is called the workbox system and you basically fill shoeboxes with their schoolwork, number them in order, and off they go to school. It sounds really great in theory and I've been hearing how great it works for many homeschoolers. The true test will be on Monday, our first day with the system. I am praying it will work and hold me more accountable of making sure that everything we need is there before we begin so that we don't have stopping and starting like school has become for us. I will post pictures of the system later. Well, I gotta run to buy more velco for the chore charts I made yesterday. The children are already groaning.........