Interview on HSBA -

I published an interview today on Dana Hanley of Principled Discovery over at Homeschool Blog Awards. Thanks to Dawn for helping with the photos - I don't think I'll ever fully be comfortable with Word Press. LOL

Homeschool Senior 08 Giveaway


Amanda (Super Angel) from The Daily Planet and The Homeschool Class of 2008 blog is hosting a giveaway of 5 very cool Senior 08 t-shirts from the Homeschool Boutique. Amanda is also a contributor on the Homeschool Blog Award blog.





Go here to read about the contest and see photos of the t-shirts.

Staging a Sit In at Walmart

That's the best title for the day? I got up and had my garden tryst, headed to the gym and spent the entire rest of the day getting things ready for the PWOC Planning Meeting. I am NOT a procrastinator but the weeks have been too busy. I made handouts, printed, printed and printed. I went shopping. I made up notebooks. I don't know what else I did. All PWOC - all the time. ::snort::

I took Arielle and Stacia with me to Office Depot and Walmart. In Walmart Stacia wanted to try on make up. WHAT? I told her to come with me....she stalked ahead, plopped herself on the ground, crossed her arms, and gave me her pouty look. I realized this was HER twist on the 2 year old temper tantrum. I mean really....she is nearly 3. It still surprised me.

I laughed and started looking for my camera. It wasn't in my purse.

Meanwhile, someone headed towards her with a cart. She was in the middle of the aisle. She picked herself up, stalked a few feet away and replayed the scene. She did this several times.

Yes, I told her this was ugly.

Secretly, I think I like this quiet sit in tantrum better than the out and out meltdowns I've had to endure with other children over the year. Only those nearby saw (and they laughed too) as opposed to years past where all in the store (and some in the parking lot) knew a child was tantruming....and then they don't smile.

The meeting went well. Much was accomplished. We have a great team working together this year.

This really is ALL I did today...and I was literally running to get done by 4:00 p.m. so I could go set up. My email folders are exploding. Mike is studying for ACSC...so I'll go deal with those next.

Nolan's GRAND Achievement

Nolan is 9 years old. He has spent the past S*I*X years in speech therapy. The first three years it was 3x a week, the 3rd-5th year it was 2x a week, this year it's been once a week.

His therapist has said that he has all the sounds now, except for "R". We'll work on that. He still has some processing issues....but we can work on that as well. This is a huge step for us. SIX years is a long time to have speech. I'm relieved to be able to school without the pressure of breaking to run to appointments.....I'm excited that he can usually be understood these days. It's all good.

EXCEPT - Nolan has always gotten very attached to his therapists. It was hard to say goodbye in Alaska and move here. It was hard to say goodbye today to Miss Natalie. She is moving to San Antonio so I explained that he wouldn't see her even if we DID go to therapy next year. LOL

He wanted to get Miss Natalie a gift. I had several choices for him. He said, "I'd like to do flowers and chocolate". FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATE. I was rather proud at having raised such a thoughtful and insightful young man.

He didn't really love any of the ones that the florist had made up. He told them he thought Miss Natalie would like sunflowers and daisies. What a sweetheart. They made up this and he agreed that they were perfect.

We didn't get the chocolates. We delivered the card and flowers....and everyone ooed and ahed over the sweet boy.

On the way out I told Nolan, "Wow, I've taught you how to treat women WELL. You did that just right."

He replied, "Actually, Mom, I've been watching what Dad gives you all the time and flowers and chocolate are what you like."

Score - Mike was gloating over this one. He deserves to gloat. His young son has learned how to treat a special woman in his life. Way to go Mike and Nolan.

When we got home the other kids had decorated the house with signs and streamers...and a giant blanket fort that they will sleep in tonight.

When Nolan walked in they all yelled SURPRISE!

Great kids one and all! I love the care they have for each other. We weren't able to use the celebrate plate or do a special dinner as I was out tonight...and will be tomorrow...but WEDNESDAY we'll celebrate.

They're all out and about watching the Spurs game tonight....I think I'll give up on crunching numbers and sleep on it.

MONDAY

I worked out - that was "good".

We did not do school - that was not good.

I took Nolan to speech.

I visited with a friend who stopped by.

I visited with a friend on the phone.

I raced to Mom's Night Out - last one of the year. We spent our time together sharing things we were thankful for this year. It was great. Encouraging. Meaningful.

I spent most of my day crunching numbers for a PWOC budget, checking out costs online, well....doing PWOC stuff both local and regional. Tomorrow night is our PWOC planning meeting - to plan the upcoming year....and then things are shutting down for the summer and we'll be able to get some quality school done! Yippee!

Weekly Fitness Goals (click button for more info)

Weekly Goal - 240 Minutes (40 minutes most days)
Total Weekly Minutes - 360 minutes
Annual Goal - 11,700 minutes
Minutes to Date - 4, 812 minutes

Weeeellllllllll, it happened again. Someone excitedly congratulated me on my new pregnancy. I am not pregnant. I have a churlish, hypothyroid, middle-aged body that is fluffy!!!!!! ::snort:: I guess I simply have to continue food journaling, the workouts the trainer mapped out, and add more ab work......I AM getting stronger. Why did the weight melt off at 2 lbs a week last year and refuse to budge this year?

I feel good about getting the whole weight thing in 3x this week. I feel good about maintaining 40 - 60 min of cardio while adding the weights. I feel good about spreading the time out over 5 days (which barely meets the most days of the week goal). ::snort::

I don't feel so good about the stubborn scale or the excited folks commenting on my false pregnancies.


Monday - 65 Minutes (45 minbike, 20 min lower body weights)

Tuesday - 85 Minutes (40 min ARC, 25 min bike, 20 min upper body weights)

Wed - 40 Minutes (35 min elliptical, 5 min abs & obliques)

Thursday - 80 minutes (40 min ARC, 40 min weights - all)

Saturday - 90 minutes (30 min ARC, 20 min bike, 40 min weights - all)

To read accounts from more participants - click here. To join us, click the icon above.....

Promotion Sunday

The day began with a promotion party for our Protestant RE department. This is the last Sunday until fall that we'll have Sunday School. I know that seems strange to civilians. It was strange to me when we entered the Air Force too. Now I get it. We have huge sections of our parish leave every summer. Most of us are in new areas and so want to explore our new area and visit family during the summer. It makes sense to ease the load for volunteers, to adapt to the lower numbers and shifting population in the summer by having most programs take a break. We continue PWOC by having a few outings and Project Nights....but our Bible Study is on hold until September.

All that to say that TODAY was the last Sunday School of the year. Mike had planned a fun time for all. I have great photos - but I only have permission from Steve and Debbie to use their children's photos. (BTW I appreciate my friends who allow me to exploit them on my blog - Deja and Debbie who have said I can use their children's photos - makes the blog a bit less ego-centric; though I totally understand those who do not want their images on line). ::snort::

Here are a few photos of our children and Steve and Debbie's. That's Steve with the hoola hoop. The balloons are always a hit.




After this we came home, had a bit of time to talk, then Mike and I headed back for the Gospel Service. We had 2 hours between services and so I holed up in an office with my laptop and worked on PWOC stuff. I worked on a proposed budget, pulled together inputs and compiles a proposed calendar, typed up a few "recent events" for use on the national website, and began to try to figure out how many $ a few events are going to cost to take ladies to. It was productive.

Josiah brought all the kids in for the Contemporary Service. I got to run the laptop for the worship slides. I think I learned a new useful trick. ::snort:: The service went well. It is the coolest thing to see God move. Dare I say the "r" word? Yes, pray for our student service. We are seeing the stirrings of revival and it is exciting. Some of these students will be here 3 months, be assigned to a post and sent overseas. We so want them to know Jesus. Many responded tonight to the message. Seriously, we covet your prayers for this service. The worship leader resigned as of tonight. The service time is changing...and yet God is on the move....and we desire to see lives transformed during their time at this "training base".

Mike, Jared, Jamin, Arille and Nolan are at the movie theater again. I guess Mike didn't think it was a terrible movie afterall.