Wow...I thought I was well rested...then I pooped out at 11:30 last night, slept straight thropugh til 5 am, then again til 7....then again til almost 9....(of course, I used those awake times to take care of kids, laundry, blinds, heat, etc...like a zombie...) I could have slept all day-and that is NOT like me. I think I over did it the last couple of days...
No plans to work out today, I am taking a day off. I hope that I am not getting a cold...that's what I feel like....ugh....working out might make me feel better, but it might make me more exhausted as well....and it's getting late....web design is calling me....(my newest "old" obsession....!)
We have to get through lessons today, but I can note and build while they do certain subjects and projects....I am seeing HTML is my sleep...still don't get a bunch of it...all the fancy stuff for effects and stuff, but the basics are simple and I can read and edit it quite well. Mostly I use drop and drag on Cool Page (which is free and uploads to FTP servers!) I need to get my paintshop installed again for graphic though....
I need to go shower and get chores knocked out....this big fuzzy cloud over my head isn't going away by itself....
Happy Homeschooling!

After my crazy week of dental nightmares and scheduling disasters, I finally felt able to get back to life this weekend. I realized, however, on Monday, that my life simply does not allow for me to "sleep on the job" for a week, and return as though nothing ever happened...not even close. Basically, all the work that didn't get done last week, had to be done along with this weeks work...so, double time for me...!
My week "off" (he he! I have four, count'em, FOUR, children...!) left me time to ponder many thoughts and ideas that are otherwise pushed to the back of my overloaded brain. My entire website/s came to make logical sense in my head-I have four in various states of build/rebuild; I got quite a bit of organizing and clearing out of old schoolwork done when the pain killers we working and not making me ill; I came to terms with some really stupid issues I've had to deal with in recent years, came to terms with a new set of needed priorities. I got some rest, though it was hard and boring and frustrating for me.
We got back to normal this week, with the added work from last keeping us busy. The schedule is obvioulsy what the children need...structure, etc....they have calmed greatly. We even hosted a Chinese New Years for our co-op here today-which went great-I can't wait to see the pictures and get them posted on the site.
7am is early lately, and I need to get to bed....!

My timing with scheduling homeschool semesters is amazing. This is the fifth time in a row that I had a medical nightmare during our first week back to lessons. This time it was a major dental catastrophy...lasted all week-the result of some very much needed work-which got infected. Many trips to another county, insane amounts of pain killers, and general disruption ruled the week. Much of our work was completed...(I don't remember teaching it, is all:)) There was a point when I realized that I was teaching Math...like, I "woke up" there...confusing....I do NOT handle medication well. We all survived, but is was NOT the week of new beginnings that I had anticipated...

Oh, and I put this here for you, Dear Reader, as well as for a future reminder for myself...timing IS critical...scheduling lessons, classes, rec, sports, all needs to be done as a full picture-with four children, I use a spreadsheet at times!!! My schedule includes all the important things: appointments, so that I know NOT to schedule long classes that day, co-op group activities, so that lessons fit accordingly, we even schedule in the cycles of the Moon on our calendar!!! (fitting into science and ancient religions!:)) Unfortunately, after four years of "official" homeschooling, I realized another scheduling note: NEVER NEVER NEVER schedule a first day of a new semester on the same day you expect to experience serious PMS...I know that sounds girlie and weak-but...well...let's just say, Monday morning WAS NOT exactly a pleasent experience for anyone...;)

I am experiencing a forgotten time today...life with one child. ! I have little Jules here with me, the others went to see Cheaper By The Dozen with the grandparents from Delaware...I forgot what this was like...it's been a LONG time! Jules is a true sweetie-lives up to his name which means "light", always a smile, a gentle kiss, a sweet little sentence....he will be three in a few weeks...baby days about to be gone and forever forgotten in this house....WOW...

...we practiced counting M&Ms, and played cars, and watched Dora.....it's naptime though, for me as well, with all my stupid pain meds.....

Blessings,
Sami

We began our Winter semester of lessons today. We had finished up our Fall lessons back on December 15th, 2003, and shifted into what I call "unschooling mode". "Unschooling mode" is when we don't get out our workbooks or formal curriculum, but instead focus on fun, creative, and personal activities. We celebrated the First Day of Winter with a Yule/soltice celebration, decorated, baked, visited with friends for cookie making, candy making, ornament making...we got the tree, learned about Kwanza, Hannakah, Celebrated Christmas and New Years, did crafts, read books...had a great time.
I settled down a few days back, and started to pull together my notes and plans for our new semester. I spent evenings redoing schedules in order to formally "add" my almost five year old. I added, switched, revamped programs, lessons, projects, dates, group plans...I planned library days, book drop offs, unit break downs...added in all or our holidays (whew!), fieldtrips...yesterday, as the clock ticked down, I went over weekly schedules for the next six weeks, balanced lessons out, added personal projects and interests...broke down spelling and writing pages....I worked at it until 1am, and went to bed with a full days sheet of lessons, including finger painting, ready for me this morning.
My almost three year old woke me at 6:45am..."Sun is UP" he shouted as he ran into my dark, very cold bedroom. I got up, knowing what today held...headed downstairs for the usual...boot computer, throw in laundry, find matchbox cars, make cereal and juice...hand out chore charts, write schedule on white board, check email...oh yeah, open blinds...sun is OUT! As I make up my bed, a mantra begins in my head..."This is what I do...This is who I am..." I begin my workout at 8am, the same words lingering in my thoughts..."This is what I do..." As I showered, set up books for the day, cleaned up the kitchen..."This is who I am...this is what I do ...." It lasted until I sat down, books and pencils in hand, ready to teach science....and then, like jittery nerves on an opening night, the thought went away as I began....I just...became it.....it is who I am...it is what I do.....and then...I did it....and all was right.....!
I don't know why I felt that way...it wasn't a dreading sort of though, or a nervous thought...just a mantra...a positive affirmation. It worked...!
Our day was ok...at some point I will post our schedule of classes and you can see what me kids are up against....no one will ever say they are "bored" again...!
Make a mantra...keep it close...use it!

1-5-04
I awoke this morning with a strange feeling in my stomach. As I booted the computer and opened the blinds a small child appeared from behind. I turned to look at the child, sizing him up for the days activities...yes, you are the right size...yes, you can carry small loads of trash, yes, you can sort through bins and place toys, supplies, legos and trash into appropriate piles. YES, you CAN!
Immediately, the house was in a flurry of activity, as children ran to hide, ran to find lost reports that needed final copies done...ran to escape PURGE WEEK!!!
There IS, no escape. The week is here, lessons start next week, mommy is barely surviving in the after holiday clutter, and the time is NOW!
Today was an extra special day of purging for me: I emptied boxes that were still sitting packed, on storage shelves in the laundry room, from the house before this one. All trash...things I somehow thought were important enough to carry to our new home, and keep for almost 7 years! It has to go!
I strongly encourage ALL homeschooling moms to get organized. Have entire weeks scheduled during your year, to do nothing but. Try NOT to look at it as work, but as something renewing, find a way to relax, turn on some music, allow yourself the chance to "listen" to some incredibly bad daytime TV (you certainly won't miss it when you turn it off next week!!!) I love sitting in my piles of books, papers, notes, software, flashcards and art supplies, sorting, sipping green tea..(thanking my stars that I am not a guest on Maury Povich...) I love to get things ready for a new season, have things organized, where they can easily be found. I love going through the shelves, finding the Glow in the Dark book of stars-we forgot to use that...finding books my kids were not on level to read last time, and adding them to our curriculum. I love to look at the straight shelves, organized bins, stacks of paper, notebooks, preschool games and math manipulatives...and feel a sweep of accomplishment. It helps to start the year, the season, off right!

Tomorrow, the kitchen!!!!