New Years Resolve

Perhaps it's because I just turned 35, that my seeking and striving have ended. I'm perfectly content with where I am in my life, and the circumstances that surround me.

I simply want to do more of what I know to be important, only I'll do it better and with less inhibition.



Take cooking for example, and the imaginary resistance that stands in its way.

Buying the ingredients, assembling them intuitively. Most important, showing kids that dedication to nourishment, and happily made memories does come naturally.



A rustic life always has rough edges, in a household my size you can't expect perfection. And perhaps that is what I'll take the most pride in this New Year.



My loving husband by my side, our friendship strong, our inner-knowing. We are going to make 2009 our healthiest year ever.



What's that? Pepperoni and chocolate-drizzled cream puffs aren't considered healthy?



Who in the world told you that? Well, you can listen to whoever you want. Our lives are our own to live, however imperfectly.

And that, I resolve, is what matters. Be blessed.

Outlet Love

Before you read any further, I should warn you. My husband has all the taste genes in the family. Sure, I've learned a thing or two about classic design and quality, but I can't help tending towards the kitchy every now and again.



Take these mugs for instance, I long for my children to present me with one bearing "World's Greatest Teacher", while my husband raises his eyebrows at the mere thought of such paraphanalia cluttering up our cabinets.

And though I'd never stoop to such nostalgia as wearing an actual embroidered holiday sweater (unless my friend was the artist), I still long to celebrate my tea drinking with the appropriate seasonal cup.



Now, this one's a little harder to explain.

It's ceramic, or terra cotta rather, and if you knew my friend Jay, and his taste for the eclectic, you'd totally understand why such rustic realism rubs off on me.

Plus these vases, lest you mistake them for sculpture...I can't imagine celebrating next autumn harvest without owning a pair.



Which brings to mind Jason, Jay's partner in Abode design (seriously, check out his apartment). He's all about big presentation in the smallest of spaces.

These mirrors, he would totally respect.



Of course I have my thing for metalwork, Grandma's cookware,



...and imagined trips around the world with good friends.

Momversations

Jodimichelle first caught my attention when she started throwing Target giftcards around. No, she is not affiliated with Target, it's just her way of overcoming her tendency to hoard, as well as trying to repent for being selfish and greedy. Her assessment, not mine.

I actually find her to be quite bold and courageous, and figured this from the start, as I automatically do of any Momversationalist.

But Jodimichelle definitely took it to the next level by recording her own segment of a Momversation. And what kind of friend would I be, on the internet or otherwise, if I let her be seen talking only to herself.

Two-year-olds LOVE dollhouses!

Polly Pocket Sparkle Style House

(keep an eye out on ebay)

Hello Kitty Light Up Dream House

(keep an eye out on ebay)

Sweet Streets Coffee Shop

Sweet Streets City Dinner and a Show

(keep an eye out on ebay)

My first office

I have a gift for making unbearable basements into office space. Here's the first house I lived in with my new little family, back when I was sure I'd turn out to be a metalworker, you know, as in jewelry design?

Didn't happen.

Destiny, are you trying to tell me something?

As you may have noticed, I'm kind of over the whole blogging thing. I wouldn't go so far as to call it "so 2008", at least not 'til that ball drops, and officially dawns "year of the message board". It's just that what I'd like to create seems impossible.

You know, a slice of homeschooling life prettily-decorated, favorite resources at your fingertips, endless time spent on-line tweaking this and fiddling with that.

Doesn't mean I can't still enter amazing contests!

Take Anne, culinarily-endowed mother to seven, happened upon her site by complete serendipitous accident! On a whim, decided to enter her contest (just left a simple comment) and like the luck of some ordinary draw I WON, my second dangblasted contest!!!

Remember my first?



So, thank you Internet for existing, although my contributions are becoming more sparse and thin. And forever be blessed, awesome tech-savvy moms who take time out of busy lives to create joy within.

Latest Accomplishments

Well, I told you about the Geography Fair we won, well not exactly. There's no such thing as WINNERS in homeschooling land. In fact, we achieve more together, it's simple as that.



While I've yet to find a personal "lighting instructor" or take an officially helpful photography class, we have begun our study of the illustrationist Norman Rockwell.

Taught the kids complete Monopoly, we'd been playing

the children's version.

Captured a two year old in her first winter gear.

Tried to take the holiday photo, didn't turn out so well.

Began YMCA swimming lessons, Angie struck a deal.

Monday's Lessons

My kids study art, though we have yet to delve deeply into one artist's work, and know by heart his every whim and inkling.

I chose Norman Rockwell because I received this treat at TJ Maxx, a 2009 planning calendar. Of course I love it all by itself, and had planned from the beginning to study its artwork:



Then, I found this museum site for Norman Rockwell's illustrations, and a $5.00 coloring book, to boot!

Plus, saw these postcards and had to order some, we'll continue to add to our set.


Problem We All Live With, 1964

We needed one of each of his Four Freedoms (for a scrapbook), which we happened to find is from Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 speech.

Norman Rockwell went from "life as I would like it to be", painting boys, puppies, and small town pleasures...

to life as it is, immediately after leaving the Saturday Evening Post in 1963...,

47 years of magazine covers later!

Quiz Day

Free-schoolin' , out-of-the-box thinker Dayna encourages her sparkly children to build inventive games out of history lessons. Good-timing Martins, I seem to be on the same wavelength as you guys are.

We started by counting out all our Obama buttons (totally retro) don'tcha think:


And yes, being that the majority of my friends are Republicans, I have tons of extras.

Then, we decided to look at some options (for Unit Study). Trina helped us out with the electoral college, totally printed these up, and threw in this for good measure. Of course, we'll be repeatin' the lesson in four years. I'm failin' 'em all.

So, while they were studying and coloring this.

I grabbed my notebook, and came up with this.

Hallow'een

It was a warm, but spooky night. Not that my fingers were crossed for snow, but as low pressure systems in October often grow...oh well, never mind. The spirit has passed us, and despite bitter warnings from fellow homeschoolers, the dead did not rise.

Though ghoul was present in larger quantities than last year (counted 3-4 favorite houses), we both celebrated AND survived.



Yes, I awoke late this morning, visions of skunks and winter princesses danced in my head, I'll spare you the important details, but stuffed animals were involved. It's a tradition.



No caramel apples this year though, didn't have time. However, the geography fair exactly one week prior, went off without a hitch (sorry, no awesome pictures). Even local representative Mark Owens felt inclined showed up.



Next year, we'll choose Africa, stay tuned.

Autumnal forecast

I predict snow. I'm being honest, as usual, though completely uncreative, I'll admit it. What with the geography fair just two days away, a smackle of playdates for both tomorrow and friday (won't say where, or with who)...just grateful for Jen and Mani, two of the sincerest friends ever. I'll leave Friday a mystery, just to spice things up.

We've joined 4-H, yes officially, but who's asking. I'm so excited by the leadership opportunities, watching my olders shine with responsibility, the chance to take charge of their duties, and to meld with a group. I never thought "I move to..." and "I second that motion..." could be so adorable, but it is, like any foreign language becoming natural.

But speaking of snow, and the Halloween that comes after, and walks the fine line with it every year, yes they do! I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not dressing up, I'll never sell my soul to that devil (there's two). Some things I've just decided (writing it here makes it inevitable, and therefore possibly true) take more of your spirit, than they give back to you.

A positive representation of homeschooling should be every study-at-home enthusiast's goal.

Afterall, what might the neighbors think? I prefer it more simple, an honest admission of the ups-and-downs, confidence gained step-by-step, the learning process often composed of struggle, then revelation. And I'm just talking about the parents so far, we teachers in training.

Were we spoon-fed, some institution's packaged jargon, a curriculum (everyone's using one) to tweak to our classroom's own style, I can't imagine we'd ever be unhappier. Any teachers out there daring to call your system unsatisfactory? Dare to dream an improvement, and then say it out loud? Didn't think so.

But all alone here ('cept for Jackie, who's always welcome), I can say what I want, feel how I think. Let the critics fill in their details with false assumptions, keeping distance between us, it's their habits, not ours. Everyone who knows me, knows me well, I don't spend life hiding, fruitlessly hoping from afar.

So, that said, moving forward (or back) into an unwavering faith in humanity's destination. We're all going somewhere, right? Our family, for instance, in between reading and writing (a certain son ready to give his more trying), and obvious math, and other things unexciting...we are studying the human body.

No, not sociologically, or even theologically, both bodies bearing weight, but currently it's physiology. Beginning with cells, where else? Drawing pictures, comparing systems...in spite of, or inspired by, the upcoming fair this spring (it's all science-y).

Nobody wants to be doctors, they've said. One fashionista, one scientista, and two business owners who want to work for themselves. Oh well, passion's unpredictable, it's the foundation I'll build that will sort this stuff out.

Biology 4 Kids, a homeschooling mom's saving grace, teachers sharing lesson plans (freely, no strings-attachedly), and my new personal favorite, though I admit I'm just exploring, philosophy of math (because EVERYTHING is philosophy, even numbers). I know, I'm aghast!

Busy Life

Back by popular demand

Had I forseen this previously unforseeable return, I'd have warned myself. But alas, my fate is in the stars, and who am I to question our stellar destinies? I have so much to wax on and on about, most especially where it concerns homeschooling...and spelling, and poetry, and "living math" (ever heard of that?) We're having a great year so far, to say the least.

And say the least I am, simply because I've got two tidbits worth sharing, and nada much else. For now. Firstly, can you say Wa Wa Wubsy (that's how I'd say it, even if it is Wow! Wow! Wubbzy), on Nickelodeon. Well, talk about free train tickets for kids, oh my!

S'right, just have to buy a DVD, which all my lady friends agree is "cute enough" and harmless. So buy one for all your friends, or however many kid tickets you need to call life a vacation.

Secondly, boring spelling, I never knew phonograms could be so fun! Seriously, learn all the spelling rules you never knew we had, and thank your public school teachers for giving fresh cause to re-learn all these tricks-o-da-trade (for the National Spelling Bee, of course!)

Oh, and here's a freebie...'cause I gots some housecleaning to do. Geography Fair is in just 3 weeks, and the United Kingdom was the most excellent choice (more later). It's not just participants who are invited:

Enjoy a yearly festival of the success we call homeschooling, and ask all the "what kind of nut are you" questions you like!

Another one? A really, really classic idea made manifest? I'd Wa Wa Wubzis for Christmas sometime.

'Cause you totally should be

Free buttons anyone? Get 'em here...or just ask me where I got mine. I'm keepin' a purse full of extras (way cooler than signs).