you must be wondering if I am ill. But actually I have been feeling better than ever. Things have really been a struggle for Big and Little M, but especially me since moving in June. I guess it is their age this time on how aware they have been and the challenges we have encountered on this move. I myself didn’t fully understand the impact on myself until recently in a journal. While the move was an awesome change and chance for us it has been without it’s ups and downs. As I am finally starting to get my feet under me and understanding myself how have I been able to expect my children to understand where they fall in emotional roller coaster? While we will keep plugging along and trying to become stable with all of the changes I am shooting for some balance on/right after our year anniversary […]
Original post by fakingnormal
So I picked on a friend yesterday for not keeping us up to date on her life and realized that I rarely get her to post. Not that I have as many (if any) followers that she has. But I understand how life gets away from you. While my girls are both in public school I still am waiting in the wings for them to say they don’t want to go anymore and start happily homeschooling them as I have wanted to since it was brought up by my wonderful friend Maura ALL those years ago. I also know that it is a matter of time. I already see the struggle in my youngest. She is maintaining but not for long. She just needs to get over the friend thing and that will be soon. I can’t complain this year for my oldest daughter she has the most AWESOME teacher I […]
Original post by fakingnormal
Today I write because I am exhaust with life. I think life would be better if I lived in the middle of nowhere. I struggle today with the outside world. My girls struggle to fit in a place where people do not understand them nor do they try to understand. I become more exhausted with dealing with outsiders/family members in life then with anything my kids can throw my way. Unfortunately my children have been getting the shaft of my frustrations with life outside. I guess the good thing of it is that it brings me back from trying to lead a normal life to making sure I am doing the best for them.
Even though my desire is still to have my children at home with me and to educate they are in public school. Much too long of a story to go into details but I am holding out because […]
Original post by fakingnormal
I was exchanging emails with a friend of mine that was actually a client of mine first. We spoke at the end of the “school” year last year about the struggles her son was having. As she put it she had the school on speed dial. I spent the first few months of summer trying to get her to look into homeschooling. I really think that with his disabilities he would do so much better learning at home. Well she told me in an email from yesterday that they had enrolled him in a private school and thought that it was going to work out. Then the email came today things are not working out……why are people so hesitant to look into homeschooling?
Just an FYI on our situation this year my kids begged me to go to school, alot of pressure and “talk up” from anti homeschoolers about how great […]
Original post by fakingnormal
blogging than I have done. I thought I was going to be publishing all these great insights and experiences with my daughters and frankly I just haven’t had the time. My hats off to all of you that can keep up with all of this. I am still trying to figure out how to get pictures posted….as for the move we have been packed and out of our house with stuff in Big M on the other had is maintaining at all levels and is interested in all of it. I must say that I find myself frustrated with the lack of retention in the money department though. I would think from my experience of money as a child that it would be exciting and interesting to get an allowance, save and spend some of it, but it seems like it is just a HUGE painful chore for all of […]
Original post by fakingnormal
Well, after getting very frustrated with not finding the house and all the driving I have been doing lately, Grandma and Grandpa offered to let us move in until we found our house. So the packing began the middle of last month. I am always amazing at the crap you have to go through when you move. As a kid I moved often so I learned early on only keep what you need. I am not sure why this time seemed like I had a house that had 50 years worth of stuff to go through. So we moved yesterday but not before we found out the day before that our offer was accepted on our perfect house. So I got to move stuff into storgae to in 30 days to re-move into our new house. Ugh!!!! Certainly can’t do anything easy….just waiting for Big M to start loosing it.
Original post by fakingnormal
Wow, May is almost over time goes by so quickly. I am on a couple of chat groups and the mom’s have been reflecting on what they wish they had done different as they children are getting ready to go off to college. They wish they hadn’t wished that their children start walking so they didn’t have to carry them around, they wish that they had worked less and spent more time with they children when they were younger…..and I must say that while reading their posts and reflecting on my past and things that I wanted from my Mom, I am grateful that I have choosen to do things differently. I didn’t want my youngest to stop needing a bottle even though she choose to REFUSE it at nine months. Yes that is right my baby was drinking formula out of a sippy cup hehehe I told you “faking […]
Original post by fakingnormal
While the girls and I have seen a few flowers blooming we have seen and felt more weeds. I think both girls have gone through more tissue this year then all winter long. Ofcourse it doesn’t help having the typical Colorado weather either. One day it is 40 degrees the next 80 degrees. We are still house hunting but hopefully there are more on the market with spring here. The houses I have seen should be buldozed and started over. I am looking forward to the girls having a great classroom this year. So on with the search for the perfect house. I think we are going to spend most of the summer at the art musuem and seeing/learning about the different exhibits. My oldest is really showing some artistic abilities.
Original post by fakingnormal
as a child I never thought time moved fast enough. I was one of those kids that laid in bed all night wide awake waiting for the next day. Now as an adult I blink and the day is gone. I wonder how my children perceive time, if it is going as fast for them as it is for me or if it is slowly passing like when I was a child. I can’t believe that May is already here. It doesn’t help with trying to live in limbo looking for a house to get moved into. Do I pack this if I do will I need it? Then part of my New Year’s resolution this year was to spend less, save more. Not to just talk about doing it but actually doing it. Along with involving my children. This year at 6 and 7 years old they started savings […]
Original post by fakingnormal
with the craziness of spring time and trying to get everyone together for Mother’s Day this year we are getting together the week before to celebrate. I got a crazy idea while in the thrift store a couple of weeks ago for the girls to paint on flower vases to give out to Grandma’s. Tomorrow the weather is suppose to be close to 80 in Colorado so we are going to give it a try. Just incase it turns out to be a dud we have enough time to do something else. If I ever figure out how to post pictures on here I will show you the end results…..
Original post by fakingnormal
I thought I figured it out, I only got half of it. I think I have spent more time messing with the blog page then I have sleeping or interacting with my kids in the last 18 hours. I am not OCD at all. Thank you Maura and Andrea for posting and making me feel a little less doppy. I guess I have a few years to figure it out and it doesn’t all have to happen yesterday, today or tomorrow. Kind of like the way my kids learn. I am looking forward to searching out and reading others posts on the site. I have come to learn with my kids and education, I learn the most from other Mothers I interact with then with any “professional”. My hopes for blogging here is to look back when times are tough with my kids and see how far they have come. […]
Original post by fakingnormal
Cathy created this meme, with an interesting back story of how she found it. So here I go.
Eight Questions About Our Lives Because Eight Questions Are Plenty
1. What is the best part of your life right now?
I have the time and ability to continue learning and growing, to pursue my own projects and creative endeavors, and to order and control much of my own life. I am also blessed with a wonderful family, a safe and comfortable home, and all the other blessings we start to take for granted.
2. What do you think the best part of the near future will be?
Watching my children grow. Finally not having to wash cloth diapers all the time! Soon, I won’t have anymore in diapers. Maybe (fingers crossed) moving on to a new vocation that will fit in with homeschooling my kids.
3. What are you most afraid of?
Like Cathy, my top fear is […]
Original post by learningumbrella
I’ve been tagged for a couple memes, so I’ll go ahead and do those today.
I was tagged for this one by Mind Games and Ragamuffin Rosie.
Six Unimportant Things:
Rules: (1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
1. I was thrilled the first time I got tagged for a meme.
2. I feel it’s very important to fold bath towels in half width-wise before folding them in half length-wise, then in half again for the cupboard. That way they are ready to hang on the rack when I pull them out.
3. I don’t have a dishwasher, and I wash dishes by hand about five times a […]
Original post by learningumbrella
I’ve been tagged by Tara for a book meme.
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
I’ll play along! Well, I’m in my kitchen, so the book nearest me is … Bad Guys Don’t Have Birthdays: Fantasy Play at Four. You thought it would be a cookbook? I’ve got books sitting all over this house! It’s a mess! Anyway, there aren’t 123 pages in Bad Guys. Bummer.
Okay, if I look farther to my left I see … Madame Bovary. That has more than 123 pages!
Here you go:
“Do you feel sick?” he asked, coming closer with an anxious air. “Probably something you ate. You ought to go home, Madame Bovary, and drink a little tea.”
Now, I will tag anyone who is interested in doing this. If you read this, and you […]
Original post by learningumbrella
I was going to post about sugar (and how much of it I need to stop eating), but then I read this post at Mother Crone’s, and it made me think about unplugging and how much more I could get done …
Then I took the kids outside, cleaned up a bunch of roofing debris from our play yard, and then sat and read Madame Bovary while I watched them play. I was still feeling like I should do more, so I did a few chores, made lunch, put dinner in the crock pot, and did some “school” with the kids.
But now it’s “quiet time”, and I don’t want to read anymore of Madame and I can’t go into the room that has the sewing supplies because it also has a sleeping baby in it …
So I go back to the computer. I think I actually get plenty done, even with […]
Original post by learningumbrella
I’ve been cleanin’ up my household all the livelong day….I’ve been cleanin’ up my household just to pass the time away.
Oh, Hi! I didn’t hear you come in. I was busy sweeping my crawl space and singing to myself as I usually do while cleaning. Welcome. Hey, while you’re here, do you want any of this garbage…um, I mean wonderful stuff.
Yeah, there’s a pile over at Longmont Homeschool Group and another one over at Niche Homeschool Group. Just ignore the stinky old shoes and the workbook that has been colored all over. Oh, but check out the cool learning games. They are both in perfect condition. The fairy would have promptly turned them into well loved garbage, but they sit collecting dust because the Hero can’t stand them. Different learning styles are killing my budget!
Hey, here’s a dust rag, while you’re here why don’t you brew some coffee and dust that […]
Original post by cohsmama
Mama Squirrel is hosting a virtual mom’s night out over at Dewey’s Treehouse. Its lattes and Charlotte Mason for everyone. Looking for some inspiration? Check out the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival.
Original post by cohsmama
To be honest, I can’t believe I am 11 weeks. Yay! My stomach is still in a knot praying this one is a keeper. But 11 weeks is a good sign, right?
I am still having more morning sickness than I would like. I still try to get a daily nap. I still haven’t felt this little one move, but I am getting anxious too. But I realize 11 weeks is really early to feel one move.
I have a little bump that is growing. I am pretty amazed by it. But I am still in my clothes.
I have an appointment with a new midwife on Saturday. We will see how it goes. I feel optimistic about it. I have met her twice before and liked her.
Original post by lotus
Last we drove to Las Vegas there were two wildfires on the way. Both were right up against the freeway as we drove. The air was thick with smoke and we could see the flames. We stopped for gas at one of the towns and asked about the fires. They didn’t know how they started. Either someone set them, or it was lightening. I hope it was the latter.
When we drove home, we drove along the same roads. The fires were out and the destruction was evident. The trees and most of the grass was burned. But as I looked beneath the destruction of the fire, I saw thousands of sunflowers! I couldn’t believe it. There were places of total loss, but there were places with these sunflowers growing from the ruins.
Original post by lotus
This is our last day in Vegas. But spending the past 4 months here plus 3 months last summer I have learned to drive amongst some crazy drivers. There is a quote in “Pirates of the Caribbean” about the Pirates code being more like guidelines. The traffic laws in Las Vegas are also more like Guidelines.
You pull up behind someone at a stop light, it generally means to start honking at them. Stop signs and stop lights are treated more like ‘take this with caution, but continue through’. U-turns happen just about anywhere at anytime. It is a group of pretty aggressive drivers and I have probably learned a lot.
I will miss Las Vegas. I will miss the desert heat and sunsets. I will really miss being four hours from an Ocean. I look forward to seeing […]
Original post by lotus
Time
is the
Enemy
Time
takes her farther
away
Time
Fades her
Memory
Time
Makes others
Forget
Time
requests moving
on
Time
brings
aloneness
Time
leaves only
emptiness
Original post by lotus
Aunt Gay has been gone almost 10 months now. Since she has been gone, Uncle Jerry has spent time at our house on quite a regular basis. He is still so fresh in his grief and talks all about Aunt Gay. It has been wonderful learning more about her and her life…and her wisdom.
Last time he was visiting he brought up something she use to say.
“Aunt Gay use to say when you are raising your children, the outside hobbies, etc. need to be put aside until they are raised”. We talked a lot about this. Even hobbies can take a great deal of time and energy from the raising of our families. This was something that had been in my thoughts and it reconfirmed those feelings I had.
Even from the grave, Aunt Gay continues to bless our lives […]
Original post by lotus
We went to Cal, to Disney Land this past weekend. We didn’t make it to the beach, evidently that is only a priority to me.
The drive went fine. The hotel was nice enough. My husband is a frequent traveler so we stay at Marriott’s when available. We get points for staying there that mean added bonuses and benefits. We stayed at a Fairfield inn.
Disney was fun. I think the kids have gone a few too many times this year. They seemed to get done pretty early. Zoe and I tend to have our own personal trip to Disney, much different than Warren and the other kids. She is little and I am pregnant so there are just some things we can’t ride. Instead of the Matterhorn we went on Small World (my favorite ride). Instead of Space Mountain I […]
Original post by lotus
A little late.
This past week the belly has started to grow. It is starting to feel like a pregnant belly and is shaped (though small still) like a pregnant belly. It is fun, but surprising.
Still having morning sickness. More this week than the previous few weeks. Not fun, but if it means a healthy baby, it is okay.
We are moving [back] so I am looking for a new midwife, but I have an idea of who I would like to call. I hope she is available.
There isn’t a lot of new news as far as baby. I felt a couple of mine move at this point, but I haven’t felt this one yet.
Original post by lotus
Or at least the past couple of days
Thursday morning we woke up to the fridge/freezer thawed! Completely thawed. Most of the food had to go. Then Zoe spilled red punch on the carpet. So, if anyone has any magic tricks for getting red punch out of the carpet, that would be appreciated.
Back to the fridge. We called the office and let them know. They would send someone up. After all day, I called again. Shortly, someone came up. The compressor had gone out. Great. New fridge would come in the morning.
Warren bought ice and we moved everything to the freezer. We explained to the kids that this was an icebox!
The repair people come back yesterday morning. They fixed the garbage disposal and the bathtub problem. Said the fridge would come later […]
Original post by lotus
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