Monday, August 22, 2022

Stacia's FIRST Day of our LAST Year of Homeschooling

 This is the first day of Stacia's SENIOR YEAR, and the first day of our 34th year of homeschooling!  

34 years and we FINALLY did the first day of school picture! snort:: Thanks to Stacia for humoring me, getting dressed, and putting on make-up for a photo! LOL Thanks to BreAnne for loaning us her board.  One spot says, "What I want to be when I grow up," she put a big question mark. I told her she should read it, "Where do I want to be when I grow up?" That's an easy answer - Japan. LOL 

Two weeks ago, at co-op a sweet gal came in and wanted to know who  Obachan was. She is of Japanese descent and had seen a marking on my car proclaiming to all I'm Bachan.  As we talked, I shared Stacia's heart to go to Japan and she assured me there are plenty of jobs she can get in Japan, and I should be at peace about her going. Maybe not at 17 - I have quite a long way to go until I'm at peace. LOL 

We were up at 0715 making sure Stacia understood the manuals and syllabi for each course.  She is taking Japanese History, Japan 4, Logic, Comparative Religions, Classical Lit, Music Comp and a "shadow credit" of math. 
Today was a wild start to a school year. First, all the intro discussions with me put her "behind" where she wanted to be. Then Arielle and the boys came over to allow Mike and I to go out for brunch. Our respite hours have been cut as she will have therapy with Little Buddy during our normal times.  We jumped at the chance to go out...Stacia was sad not to be able to play with the boys...but she stayed focused and soldiered on. 
GG and Little Buddy 

Danny & Arielle

Arielle has her hands as full as her heart as she juggles Little Buddy and Danny. I didn't get a photo of Benny today...he was busy. 

Millie did NOT take kindly to Stacia having her attention back on books. First, she laid on Stacia as she tried to read Father Brown. 

She finally gave up, grabbed pink monkey, came upstairs and pouted on the couch. I swear she is part human. 


Dad was loud today. He was in a good mood. Which we love.  He expressed it by singing all types of old songs - LOUD.  Krista suggested she use noise-cancelling headphones tomorrow.  A great idea. 

All in all, Stacia got er done. 

Michael got 3 cottonwoods cut down from the front of our house - and some brush from the orchard taken down as well. 

Alex had the day off. Nolan and Allie had work.  Stacia and I went out with Krista tonight...which I will blog next. 

Mani & Sushi

One more birthday celebration? Why YES...Krista gave Stacia a trip to the spa, dress up and dinner at her favorite Japanese restaurant. Stacia was allowed to bring a friend...Allie was working on the only day Krista had off and so she chose me! 


Stacia's first mani


Krista got a pedi


Krista sprung for us to get hot wax on our hands, here we sit with our hands wrapped in hot wax and "mittens" which are really hot pads.  

I had a horrible time with the chair. I realize I'm ditzy, but the gentlemen could have helped me. I sat down and the chair kept rolling away from the table. I kept grabbing the table and scooting it forward. When they put the mittens on, I could no longer pull myself forward or grab the edge of the table to keep from rolling. Stacia told me to scoot back in the chair. I told her my feet weren't touching the ground, I couldn't use my hands and my bum muscles weren't strong enough to scoot me back. It was momentous - the first time I heard Stacia snort. Finally, when he was taking the wax off my hands, the gentlemen calmly said, "There is a lever on the side." Um...he couldn't have said that 30 minutes earlier? ::snort:: Someone very tall had been using the seat before me. Once I lowered it, my feet were on the ground, and I quit rolling. Now I know. LOL  The wax was divine. I'm still picking it out of my rings. LOL 

After dinner we went out to Sakura's for yummy Japanese food....I missed the dress up memo. I'm not sure how. Aren't they lovely? 

I have been focused on back blogging in my spare moments. It has taken HOURS to upload, then download, then select and edit photos for August 2020. I remember they were texting and asking if I'd like to go, I put it on the calendar as mani and sushi but somehow, I thought we would go to Reuben Haus. ::snort::  After a leisurely dinner we headed back to our town and decided to stop in and see Allie and Nolan. We didn't want to be "that" family - the one that stops in without buying...so we shared a dessert. 


Other than gifts still coming from Amazon Prime, I think her 17th birthday celebrations are completed. A word about Amazon....some things come in 4 days....some things in 4 weeks. I've given up trying to figure it out.