School Daze

The older three children are pretty much doing "Straight up Tapestry of Grace" - which is an honors program if done as written.  


The younger two are doing Tapestry of Grace - Tweaked. ::snort::

Two things we've added to our recent school schedule are:

Crunches, planks and bridges before couch school.  Why? Because Zander and I can use the toning up, and it's never too early for Stacia to stay fit.  Zander does twice as many as me - NOW.  This also sort of helps Zander deal with wiggles and transition into couch school.

Stacia wants to learn the books of the Bible. Christie L sent  this link to Go Fish's  Bible Book Bop. I watched it, ripped it to my hard drive (is THAT the right terminology?) and we're listening to this each a.m. between table and couch school too. Stacia is winning this competition....seems she's had some outside help from Michael...memorizing old school.  Memorizing Acts 2 is how Michael and I developed a friendship which turned into a 28 year marriage...and counting....the man is good at memorizing. ::wink::

Zander is doing GREAT after our extended traveling and Christmas break. I was worried he would have lost ground but he's actually reading BETTER.....I'm praying this is the light bulb moment we've come to expect somewhere between 8 - 10. Have I mentioned lately, "Better Late Than Early," by Dr. Raymond Moore lately? Wow - THAT'S an OLD book. I remember hearing he and Dorothy when we lived in Portland in the 80's. ::grin:: In any event he and his studies gave us the courage to "wait" for the moment with our children that didn't "take off" at 3. LOL

I do believe the older set are going to get a full week of school done....and the younger set are going to get 2 1/2 weeks done. NOT BAD for a 3 day school week!  The older ones are caught up - younger ones and I are about 4 weeks behind due to our 8 week traveling/Christmas break....but we're closing the gap quickly.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Winter Warrior - Year 3

Two years ago, nearly to the day, the older boys were home and saw a news clip about the Winter Warriors of Korea.  That led to this.  They did the same in 2011, but I can't seem to pull up that post. 


Yesterday, someone said, "It's about time for the annual winter photo." I knew...but was still surprised.....living life in the Testerzone.....with plenty of T-Poisoning going around....and think TWO of them are missing. LOL

The girls and I dutifully bundled up to brave the cold so we could document this....

Oops! No Flash (twice)... maniacal laugh

Zander even agreed to take his shirt off this year - Goecker Tough! 

Love Zander's push up style....bet he and Nolan are wondering if growing up is all it's cracked up to be!

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sledding Hills, Snow Fortresses and Learning Ops

Wow - it simply snowed and snowed and snowed....and I don't know if we are expected to get more. It snowed so much that my CHILDREN, my DAUGHTER with NERVES OF STEEL, has asked if we can all ride in with Michael to PWOC tomorrow instead of me driving....and MICHAEL has said he'll bring us home after haircuts and go BACK to base to get Nolan after drama rather than have me drive.  I AM a wimp....but this is beyond normal winter driving conditions.  I know BRAVE women who haven't ventured out all weekend. 


Today was Day 3 of a 3 day weekend. Day 1 we traveled home from Tokyo. Day 2 was chapel. Day 3 Michael had a MLK service, and some extra drop in appointments before he could get out. 


The kids and I, however, played....baked...worked on turning this blog into a book....Good fun!  We aren't sure WHERE this thing came from but a BIG, lit snow plow came by late last night and left a lot of snow at the end of our driveway.....the kids had plans to use it to add to our sledding hill and to build a fortress. 

Digging out the entrance to the igloo at the base of the sledding hill

Woot - it's looking respectable after all this snow

Nolan says it's a great hill

I prefer to stay inside and make hot chocolate

Foresight to have left the planters out - chocolate coolers

A fortress

Also on the agenda today was the start up of "routines" involving a healthy life style. I made a great dinner too....and ate just the right amount of it. 


I had a 2 hour long ministry skype. 


We've had a situation here since we've moved in. A boy who simply likes to manipulate Zander's lack of social skills. The mom has been on my door step drunk and yelling before so really there isn't much that can be done here. We've tried. I was encouraged when he came today and started to taunt Zander. Zander did NOT respond. This is HUGE. Usually Zander either lashes out physcially or breaks down emotionally...neither great responses. I didn't realize this boy was out there. Later I heard that he had come over and begun to say that Zander needed to go somewhere else because he didn't want to play with Zander.  Again - Zander didn't respond (which a few months ago made this boy and his mother mad because Zander won't respond to questions and "deadlines").  The OTHERS my  kids and neighborhood kids told him, "This is Zander's yard. If you don't want to play with him, you can go play somewhere else."  I felt like parenting is hard and I can't find the right balance in the situation...but friends helped me to see that it was GOOD for our kids to speak up and not let someone bully someone who interacts with society in a unique way (OK - already - my alphabet child). I think that's true. What this boy has been doing is not o.k. Zander has fought this battle (with the aide of Mike and I trying to talk with parents and give him pointers) for two years....it was nice for others to come to his aide today.....and we'll keep looking for ways to help Zander process the strange social cues coming his way. 


I'm now blogging while coffee cake for tomorrow's PWOC bakes...then I'm sleeping. 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yuuki Photo of the Day

Yuuki is not 100% thrilled with the snow.....today Arielle took her out for a walk and she promptly fell into the deepest ditch out there. Arielle said she couldn't jump out...just the tip of her white tail was sticking out of the ditch....Arielle climbed in and pulled her out. LOL 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yuuki Photo of the Day

Yuuki can be a bit of a distraction during Family Circle....Tonight Stacia asks us, "Pray Yuuki has a good day tomorrow." ::big grin:: This dog is a becoming a wee bit pampered, me thinks. 

For the past couple of days Stacia has been worried that Yuuki needs friends. She used to LOVE to go get her hair cut so she could play with Reeses and Lucy, Barb's dogs. She told me again this a.m. "Mom, you need to call Ms. Barb, and ask her if Yuuki and Reese and Lucy can be friends. I'm going to have to tell Reese that I still love her but I have my own dog now. ....but Yuuki doesn't have any other dogs in our house to be friends."....Not sure if she's concerned for Reese's feelings or angling for another dog. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Snow and Quakes - We're Home!

Evidently - THIS is what light snow looks like here in Misawa... Little Home on the Rice Paddies.....

Still snowing.....

I have no idea how much we have.....but I know I had three clean steps off my patio last night....

AND an earthquake last night too....I woke up thinking, "I wish I lived on base so the roads would be clear,".....now I'm thinking, "I'm glad I live off base so I can shovel when *I* think it makes logical sense!" ::snort:: 

Guess we're going to have to get up and get ready to dig ourselves out for chapel.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yuuki Photo of the Day

Since I was traveling and you didn't get Yuuki photos of the day......I'll post a few here....Yuuki playing with her new pink flamingo from Joyful Honda in Tokyo.  


Stacia was trying to play with the flamingo and Yuuki.....

Stacia ran to tell me Yuuki was doing this....

I'm learning the video feature on this new camera. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...