You know your day is going to be awesome when it begins, bright and early with a weapons check! -This was from Josie's big national fencing tournament July 4th weekend.
Sadness
Hello Bloggy-friends, so much going on here this week, I'm not sure of where to start...
This is our annual week-long Bible conference with our church, we have a family from Korea staying with us. The Bible conference is a big time-commitment, and having foreign guests who need transporting/ hosting adds to it. We so love getting to know other believers though, it is always worth it.
Josie is in our first big fencing tournament - it is the National Championships and just happens to be in a neighboring city. She has to be there for 3 different days. Of course it is this week...!
Now for the sadness. I don't like to air family drama here, mostly because I don't want to hurt loved ones by venting my side of the story. I haven't said anything about the person who hurts me the most in this life - and not because she would read it here, she has never read my blog and she never will because she is not interested in me or my family. She's not interested in my sister either, or my sister's cute/clever/amusing kids. She is not really interested in anyone but herself and she set my sister and I to fend for ourselves emotionally and physically as soon as we were [mostly] capable.
She's my mother and this week she was hospitalized with cirrhosis of the liver. She lives over an hour away, so the driving is added on top of my crazy week.
{The sadness}
I'm not really sad. I'm resigned, a bit angry with her for putting her loved ones through this, angry at her for wasting her life. Sadness though, I walled myself off [long ago] from feeling much in relation to her because it was too painful and pointless. I told someone at the Bible conference today about it all, and this friend prayed for me and my mom and this person was crying. Me...dry-eyed, even as I told her about it. I was an emotional wreck when Sky's dad was dying, but empty about my mom.
This is the sadness, that she shut me out and I had to shut her out.
Friends, if you could pray for her. This would have to be a big miracle- which I do believe God hands-out...but I also believe in free-will. My mother was sitting in a hospital bed, wasted away to about 80lbs, having blood pumped out of her stomach, not allowed to have water and too weak to hold a cup to her mouth for ice-chips...and she kept asking us to get her a "drink". I truly do not think she will live many months once she gets out of the hospital. Prayers for her family as we are manipulated and abused as she detoxes, and prayers for her soul are needed.
thank you,
-Jenn
The post where I spill about what worked, what didn't 2011/12
Here's where it gets real, friends. Homeschool plans 2011-2012: What really happened-
Okay, homeschool mom in the field, reporting back....
My Plans: The 3 youngest Students [together]
Bible: Possessing the Land (5th grade) Positive Action for Christ Curriculum
Sonlight History Core D intro to American History (was called Core 3) [History, Geography and literature]
Wordly Wise (vocabulary) Abeka cursive handwriting
Writing with Ease 2 by Susan Wise Bauer
R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Chemistry level 1- Pandia Press
The Reality:
Sonlight American History - we slogged through this and got to week 19 or so. I wasn't even really following the schedule anymore, just looking to see what book came next and if we wanted to do it. I ended up using mostly "A History of U.S.A." workbooks from this core and then reading from "A story of US" series from Core 100 and doing narrations. I don't have the whole Core3, what I have I've had stored away for a few years, so I don't feel bad about wasting money. For next year, I am moving over to My Father's World- I was able to look through their TM at a conference and it looked easier to use. They have an American History year we will be using.
Worldly Wise- didn't use much. Writing With Ease 2- I still like it, we got about half-way through, we will keep using this through the Summer.
R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Chemistry - found it delightful, Amie loved it but we only got to Chapter 2. Instead, for Science we ended up using Teacher Created Resources Nonfiction reading workbook- I just picked the Science topics. Bible- didn't get done much, will do some soul-seaching and planning for next year.
Individual Studies- 3 youngers:
MCT Grammar Island , Sentence Island, Practice Island, Music of the Spheres (poetry) etc. - did a few chapters but decided the sit down one-on-one format was too difficult for me to follow through. I also was sad to see little retention in my kids. I ordered Shurley Grammar 4 and began using it in May, will continue through the Summer. Instead, I used mostly the workbooks I had for standardized testing prep- I relied heavily on Daily Warm-ups: Language skills by Teacher Created Resources. It was easy to use. (I like easy)
Math: *Math: Math-U-See *Horizons Math *Mad Dog Math (multiplication) it was all good, I was pleased with our picks and will continue using these. This was our first year supplementing MUS with Horizons math- I was really pleased with Horizons, it was colorful, very easy to use, I hardly ever had to use the manual. MUS was our main text, moving through Horizons was slow, we will continue with it through the Summer.
The Highschoolers: The plans-
Math: Math-U-See -Algebra I, Algebra II Switched on Schoolhouse H.S. English (minus essay assignments)
Switched on Schoolhouse HS Earth Science Biology- Biola Star Program
Intro to Composition: Biola Star Program (Josie) Inklings-Biola Star (Meg)
The Reality:
I continue to be pleased with Math-U-See, we will stick with it through High School. The Biola Star program continues to shine (pun intended) and I am so thankful for these classes. Josie's composition class centered around IEW writing and also included grammar.
Switched on Schoolhouse English and HS Earth Science: The Earth Science was a big fail. Doing it on the computer drove me nuts. I need to be able to look through the book, see where she is at, what is upcoming and how I can plan to add any projects/reports. I had to order a study guide to use with this to flesh out the content. I have decided that for my next 9th graders (Earth Science is required in Ca) I will be putting them in the Earth Science class at Biola which is geared for Jr. High, but I've heard the text and content is demanding enough for HS. At least it will be easier to use and document (and will have a lab)
Switched on Schoolhouse English- I had the same problem using it on the computer, I ended up ordering the lifepac units for the 2nd semester which seemed to be exactly the same as the computer version. It was better having the units in my hands- but we will not be using these again for High School. I added on a few meaty books with sparks notes to this program for my 9th grader and 11th grader. Switched on Schoolhouse English got us through the required subject for reporting purposes, but we had no joy using it, and English has always, always been my favorite subject. My only joy came through reading The gift of the Magi, The Scarlett Letter and To Kill a Mockingbird on our own, with the help of Sparks notes for the 2 novels.
The Inklings class: (English composition/Literature/Humanities) Biola Star program
This program was stellar. I watched Meg's writing abilities soar, her reasoning abilities sky-rocket, enjoyment- discussion- logic-argument- it was all there. I loved this class. Unfortunately, it was a giant reading load, and mega-writing due every week. As much as I loved her growth, we became alarmed as her other studies suffered, she got behind in her Algebra II studies and was not practicing her violin. We had her drop the class at the end of the first semester. I was sad to see it go, but she needs a strong Math finish. It was also an expensive class, it was a relief to not pay the fee 2nd semester (total honesty here)
Biology with Biola Star was great, I loved all the lab work and projects they did (that I didn't have to...more honesty)
So, all the hits and misses at The Cliffs of Insanity Day School and St. Jenn's School for Exceptional Teens. I'll set up our plans for 2012-2013 soon and put it under the homeschool tab at the top.
So friends, what were your hits and disasters? Spill!
This is your A.D.D. brain on Summer...
Hello blog-land! I've been a little distracted/confused/busy/busy procrastinating/overwhelmed/exercising/dieting...um, pick one...
So much going on, so much to blog about!! I guess I will do a few catch-up type posts:
***but first a plug to vote for the blawg! I am in the running for Circle of Moms top 25 Homeschooling moms. I am in the middle of a blogging slump, as you can probably tell...so I haven't mentioned it here on the blog, but somehow, I went from like 18 votes to 100+ {wow! someone loves me!} So...if you could click over, scroll down and vote for me, I would so {heart} you. You can vote once a day until June 27th -only 8 days left!
~1~
Meg went to Prom and I had a great "ah-ha" moment for a photography session. We keep driving by this set of railroad tracks next to the freeway with these colorful empty train cars just sitting there. I thought it would be fun, Meg agreed, so we drove around till we found it. This was a Jenn-sort of adventure, I had no idea what street would come close to the cars, or if we could even get close. It all worked out, though. I got some great photos, a few that could have been better. It's such a learning process with me. She had a great time at prom :)
~2~
I attended a small photography workshop here in Orange County at Crescendoh art gallery. I have been wishing/looking for a local class only a day or weekend in length, but could only find semester-long community college classes. I just don't have that kind of time to commit, this class was perfect- one full day of photography/blogger bliss. I got to hang out with other bloggers *AND* have lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, which was just down the street. This class was taught by Cynthia Shaffer and she physically took hold of my Nikon D80 and helped me change/find all the menu settings on it. Finally!! My photography horizons were expanded- I can now do so much more with my camera! She taught us about settings, aperture, lighting- gave us lots of tips and hands-on help and then we went outside for an outside photo lesson, urban style. It was an amazing day!
~3~
Our homeschool year came to a close- and not soon enough for me! This has probably been my most lack-luster homeschool year, I was really overwhelmed & uninspired and we didn't do many creative things at all- just kind of survived the year. I crashed and burned spectacularly with end-year stuff for Meg and Josie. My charter school ES- a saint. She's still talking to me...a miracle. It was this weird situation where I actually had extra time to complete stuff, but I kept procrastinating and dragging my feet anyway. I think in my brain, I was just done/bored/over it. I keep mentioning A.D.D. in a joking way here on the blog, but it's kind of not a joke. I am thinking maybe I have it. Last week I grabbed a few books on A.D.D. at the bookstore and started looking through them, I started to read some of it out loud to Sky and we both laughed at how so much of it sounds like me. It's funny that Sky can be so patient with me, he is so linear and logical and organized- I know just my way of being must drive him crazy, but he tolerates it /looks past it all very well. I like to think that I add the flavor to his life, linear would probably be kind of boring...
~4~
So, in light of #3- I am dedicating this Summer to getting organized/my house clean/and doing some major planning for homeschooling in the Fall. But first! - I am in the middle of serious exercising/weight-loss.
Did I mention I seem to only be able to concentrate on one thing at a time? Right now, it seems to be P90x.
refer to #3 again.
~5~
My baby-girl had her 17th birthday. I can't believe she is 17! She is finally driving, she has her own car now. My life has changed so much just by having her driving! She is my most busy child, I call her my Renaissance kid- if she could dabble in almost every activity/sport/art -she would. Now, she does her various activities, like violin/Irish dance/ high school classes/ her job- on her own. It's like magic! I was kind of in a daze at first, having a day or two where I didn't have to drive anywhere was kind of surreal. Sky has been emphatic that I need to decide what I want to dive into and make this my time to shine. [love that man <3 ]
~6~
First up on Jenn-time is p90x. It's an intense exercise dvd set. So far I have lost a bit over 9 lbs (it keeps bouncing up and down). I am going to do a blog series on it. I have been watching what I eat and counting calories on My Fitness Pal. In the past, when I needed to lose weight, I have done Jenny Craig- but I just couldn't afford it this time and I just couldn't stand the thought of eating the pre-packaged food again. With My Fitness Pal, I can plan to eat the things I like, I just need to pick healthy/ healthier things. More later....
So, blog-friends, how is your Summer shaping up? Have any big plans? What do you hope to accomplish this Summer?
Wordless Wednesday -open,open,open
Annabelle and Dapples looking through the sliding door, wondering what we are up to and why they are not invited in.
Happy Wordless Wednesday!
Notes
Well, our school year is winding up. We just finished up with our Biola Star classes, the 3 youngest are done with their charter school but we have another week of charter school for my two high school students. I feel like my load has lifted a lot, but like I still have a lot hanging over my head with finishing up the high schooler's year. We have some essays and projects to finish up and record before our last meeting. This homeschool year was not my best year. I am clearly going to have to dedicate myself this Summer to super-organizing for next year. With that in mind, I am planning on using My Father's World next year for everyone but Meg. Meg will be in her Senior year next year, History as a subject is over for her and we already have a really full course planned for her. I really, really liked the schedule pages for My Father's World. The schedule grid looked about the same as the History course we area already using, but- it had spaces for all subjects on the page (A.D.D. mom does not do well having to flip around to other schedules) and also some helpful little notes in some of the squares reminding you to do something or telling you where to find something. I really need that. The best part was the facing page- It listed the days of the weeks with directions on what you should be doing each day. } This works with how my brain thinks. I have figured out how to line up our History plans with what MFW is offering. I think/hope it will be a really good change. [Worksheets]. I saw ample worksheet offerings and narration sheets and coloring sheets...swoon. I am so glad I was able to see this curriculum in person, otherwise I would not have realized how much I like it.
I am still going strong with watching what I eat and exercising daily. I am now up to level 3 of the 30Day Shred and I can run more of my mile & a- half route. I've lost six pounds already and feel so much better. Here's the neat part, yesterday while I was doing my Shred, one of the kids was watching me. In the past, I would exercise in the privacy of my room, using the laptop but something is wrong with the disc drive and I can't use it now...so, it's the desk-top in the front room or the t.v in the living room. Well, this un-named kid was watching me and watching Jillian Michaels and laughing at me when I couldn't do the full-on sit-ups with my legs straight (those are hard!) She asked if she could do the workout with me the next day. I am really happy over this.
Here's where I struggle with how much to share on-line and with how much to be real- and how to be helpful to other moms. I think I am okay sharing this. One of my kids, (I will not name) is a butter-ball. I noticed from the start that she is built differently then the others, she has always been more sturdy, bigger-boned; I guess you could call it. The last few years she has put on the weight and I've been distressed and unsure of how to help her. My big handicap is the fear of giving her some kind of horrible body-issue- struggle for the rest of her life. As a society, we've become really sensitive about body -issue problems with girls- and not contributing to them...but I feel left in the dark about what to do when your child does have a problem. At first, I figured it was our problem, not hers. She needs to just be a kid, we as the adults in her life needed to handle it by getting her more physical activity and watching that she eats more healthy. Sounds good, but really hard when you have four other kids in the house who are built like you were as a child- athletic and can eat anything, all day. We've tried to watch her like a hawk and remind her to only take 3 cookies, not the 8 she grabbed...to suggest fruit, to make her eggs instead of cereal for breakfast. We've put her into after school activities just to watch her put in the minimal effort. We've taken her out because it was a waste of money. When I was a kid, I was almost always outside playing. Here, there are no other kids on our block. It's been a real struggle. I don't know how to change it without singling her out, and I'm afraid of the issues I could cause if I deny her a snack but let the other kids have one. I worry if I stop all snacks but healthy stuff, that she will begin to hide food and binge. I worry she will resent me.
I've tired little efforts- taking her on mile long walks more regularly, trying to get out and play tennis at the park..but it isn't happening every day. So- having her ask to workout with me is huge. It's something she wants to do, not something I am pushing on her. Jillian Michaels, you rock- and I am so glad that my daughter has found something in you to compel her to emulate you. After we finished our first workout I pulled up a photo of Jillian in highschool, when she struggled with weight...to show my daughter that we all have our struggles but that we all can also get healthy.
Thank you, Jillian Michaels.
My Fitness Pal - a great diet tool
So, I saw a photo of me a few weeks ago and didn't realize for a minute that it was me. Yes, it was that unflattering.
Something must be done and now. I asked around at my favorite online homeschool mom hangout and noticed many were talking about p90X -a series of hard-core video workouts. I decided this is for me; But first, I needed to get up off the couch and do some kind of exercising, because doing p90x straight from couch-potato status probably would lead to my quitting exercise all-together.
Know thy enemy: My enemy is myself.
I went ahead and made an account over at Beachbody (publishers of p90x) and found an online coach (another homeschool mom) I asked my coach about counting calories, something I haven't ever attempted because I know I would stink at it... She told me about My Fitness Pal - which is a really cool smartphone app and website. I don't think calorie counting was ever this easy or addicting. I think of it as my own online video game...of sorts.
You can sign up for an account, it will ask you for your height, weight, sex, level of current activity (does walking to the computer and fridge count??) and your goal -weight loss, maintain, gain? The site will then calculate how many calories a day you should be eating to make your goal. The neat part, as you enter in everything you eat, it subtracts calories and lets you know how many you have left for the day.
This is diet journaling at its finest. It's sadly eye-opening to realize how much junk you stuff your face with, and how little 1200 calories is compared to what you have become used to. [ahem]
Your smartphone app and desktop will synch, which is really cool- if you are out at a restaurant, you can add to your food diary and even look up dishes to find nutritional content and to help you make a healthier choice. I love that when you look up food items, they are usually already in the database with all the nutritional information already entered. I also love that it remembers all the things I eat, and so, since I am a creature of habit, I can easily check off foods I've already entered as I eat them. You can also scan food packages with your phone and the information will pop up. How cool is that?
The online video game part? You can sort of bargain for calories. Go for an extra run, enter it and My Fitness Pal will add extra calories you are now allowed to have. It's a game...so if I get up off my butt and run I can have a bigger dinner? Yes. Maybe. I've discovered that at least for me, adding the extra calories slows my weight loss to almost nil, so I am staying with the base 1200 calories and not entering in my exercise. But...if I really wanted dessert, I might play the game once in a while :)
The diary also keeps track of your water intake...I really need this. With my anemia, I am often dehydrated - my hands often look prunish- like after you get out of being in water for a long time, except I haven't been in water. And yet, I don't drink enough water. Having the prompt on my screen is helping me to make sure I drink water.
You can make a profile at My Fitness Pal, track your weight and eating goals and make friends. If you have an account (which is free) let me know in the comments and I will send you my username if you'd like to friend me.
So far I've lost 5lbs. It's such a slow race, kind of frustrating.
So, internets, any fitness advice?
*not a sponsored post
Wordless Wednesday- Cozy art
Oliver cozies up to Josie and "helps"/ "obstructs" art...