Summer Sucks

Here we are again.  I forget to update this.  I need to make it a weekly thing.  Those who follow it, if I forget, email me and tell me to get off my tail and post.

Anyway, summer sucks here in Kansas.  HOT and HUMID.  A horrible combination.  We are back to school now.  We are going to school year round to make it easier to to take sick days.

Alison is studying Russian History.  I couldn't find a textbook or book that wasn't college level, but it seems I am having to create the curriculum as we go.  She is also doing chemistry, which she must take in order to take the Gastronomy class she wants.  I am having to do that by hand as well for the same reasons.  She is learning Japanese isntead of french.  even harder to find curriculum for that.  They have AT LEAST two alphabets.  *headdesk*  She is starting to look at requirements for scholarships.  I wish her well, and hope she isn't trying to hard and burns out.

Xan is in second grade now and is doing well.  He is behind in math, but I know I am not a good math theacher.  I am trying to find a free or cheap online tutor/class for him.  He loves science, so we are focusing on experiments.  I think I am going to sign him up for Super Charged Science.  Aurora Lipper is a professor and has worked for NASA.  Check her page out, she is amazing.  www.superchargedscience.com
Calming Xan down isn't working, so now I am trying to let him do his work wherever he wants.  I mean, Ali is allowed to be on her bed and have her mp3 player, so I guess it is cool if Xan stands up to work.

Mason is 2 now!! He says the funniest things.  I need to try and write them down as he does so we can look back later.  His new nickname is Houdini, as he can escape from anything.  His big thing right now is drawing.  He wants do "play school" like the other kids, so we are finding ways to include him.

We got a puppy.  She is a chocolate lab.  Such a fun girl!

We are in 2 legal battles currently.  Trying to get my 15 year old back home with me, and trying to get my husbands 10 year old too.  Long story, but I will say I am sick of the court system.

We have found a church home and I will be baptised September 11th!  We had a few issues about a sermon that made us feel uncomfortable, but after talking to the Pastor, we realized it was SUPPOSED to be that way.  God has a reason for putting us in certain situations.  I am working on accepting that, but it is hard to change after being pagan for 30 years.  Now, I wonder, how will this affect my kids?  They are all Christian by choice.  In fact, Alison is loving her youth group.  Finally making some friends.

So, anyway, to close down I will say this:  I love homeschooling the kiddos, but I do way more work than they do.  Not fair.

Long time, no talk

  Once again, I get to apologize for not blogging lately.  Well, here we are, in March.  How on Earth did that happen?  Things around here are going alright.  Everyone got over the flu (finally) after 3 months.  Mason has a double ear infection, but it is clearing up.

  Now, on to school.  Alison has been doing independant work study. I give her the lesson plan for the week and as long as it is done by Friday, she can work wherever and whenever she wants.  It is going ok, but I don't know how long we will do it.  She wants to take french, so I am trying to find an affordable (pref free) course study for her.  She has been working on baking for her cooking class, and doing well.  A couple mistakes have been made, but she is learning from them.  It makes me so proud, and scared, that my little girl is growing up. *sigh*

  Xander is doing well, mostly 2nd grade work.  he is in first, but has "tested out" as far as I am concerned.  Not sure how that will work out in the grading system yet.  We are trying natural meds to work with his ADHD and Aspergers.  It feels like we don't have the exact combination yet, but I know I don't want him on Big Pharma meds.  He is getting frustrated easily, I am thinking that as soon as the weather figures out it is spring and not winter, he will be outside alot and that helps him.

  I finally caved in and bought a Wii for gym when they can't go outside.  It is going well so far. 

  I am finding I am getting depressed.  Cabin fever, most likely.  We live in the middle of nowhere, and thanks to my vision issues getting worse I can't drive.  DH took me shooting last night, wanted to play with his new 30-06.  That thing has some kick!  I felt better afterwards.  Now if I can just find a way out of the house further than the river.

  So, in conclusion, I guess we all just need a break.  Ali is taking her spring break when her BFF gets it, so that is taken care of.  Xan will take it soon.  I know I need one.  Take care, and be well.

I am not Superwoman

Okay, let me let those of you not wanting to hear whining off the train now.  I am going to vent.  Someday I wonder if I am going to make it to sundown.  Or even to the middle of the afternoon.  This week has been ful of those days and it is only Wednesday.  To start, I am sick.  Some wonderful bug has resided in me and decided that nothing, not even toast and water, will stay down.  So, I am exhausted.  No sleep, no food.  Great combination, right?  I am out of my pain meds, have been since Thusday.  I knew I wouldn't get them refilled Thurs, maybe not Friday, but as of today,. WEDNESDAY, my dr STILL hadn't called it in.  I finally got it fixed after several phone calls.  Still won't get it until tomorrow.
Mason is sick.  Cranky baby, yippee.  It is cold. Cold is not good, as far as I am concerned.  So much school this week.  The kids are so far behind I just wonder if I am cut out for this.  I am know I am doing the right thing with them here, but I am so overwhelmed.
I guess I need a couple of days off.  Who would be mom then?  Exactly.  Someone pass me the big-gulp sized espresso and I will keep on truckin...until I collapse...which at this rate, won't be long.
God, just give me five more minutes of strength....I promise I won't ask for more..until that 5 minutes is up, of course.....
I need friends so badly.  Online even.  Chat friends.  What do I do?

Checking in

So, it's been awhile.  I hope all of you are well.  (you know the 1.5 of you reading this blog)  Life around here has been hectic but seems to be settling now.  We are slowly getting back into the groove around here.  I am going to physical therapy 3x's a week for my dizziness issues, what fun.  I bruised my knuckle and chipped a bone so my hand hurts like crazy, but what can you do?

Xan is acting out lately, I think he just wants attention.  With everything going on, and little school, I think he might be bored.  Maybe more school would help.  He is doing bible study with Grandma for morality and behavior.  I think we will get back inot writing this week as his is slipping.

Alison is starting to balk at assignments, so I think it is time to get her going again.  She is doing a report on Daylights Savings Time this week and told me she had never done an outline.  I think I said What?! 5 times.  So yea, we are working on that. 

Mason is trucking right along learning to talk and terrorize his siblings.  Fun times, let me tell you.

I guess we can use Thanksgiving as a good starting point to jump inot lessons.  We may use it as a unit study.  We don't really do unit studies, but I think it may help keep me me focused for now.

Darla is doing better and her daughter Ashley is the sweetest girl who ever lived.  For more on that, check out the blog. http://thruitall-joy.livejournal.com/

Until next time, Take care of yourself.
Amber

Life takes turns, sometimes it hurts

I know I haven't posted much, but I have been busy, emotionally.  We aren't schooling right now.  Well, I guess that isn't true, we are unschooling, with some discussion thrown in.
My sister in law is having a very hard time.  She is a missionary in Papau New Gunea and was 4 months pregnant. She had a miscarraige last wednesday and lost alot of blood.  Things went downhill from there.  I don't know if anyone is actually reading this blog yet (I hope so) but if you are, you can read Darla's story here: http://thruitall-joy.livejournal.com/  She is a beautiful spirit and the world needs her here.  I just need a quiet corner and some rest right now.  Thanks for all the friends I am finding lately.

Fall Holidays: Take One

So, Fall is upon us in the midwest.  It is beautiful to behold but brings with it the usual challenges.  This year, there are certainly new challenges.  Teaching being no exception.  With Ali's health issues, my dr's appointments nearly every day, a six year old with boundless energy and even more boundless questions, as well as a one year old who is discovering himself every day, I feel tired and full of wonder at every passing turn.

Let's start our chat with something that rubs me the wrong way every year about this time,  Columbus Day.  I cannot stand the way American schools teach our children a lie.  Christopher Columbus did not discover America.  Let's get that out of the way.  I have to grit my teeth every year when they are taught that.  Not this time.  This year, I get to un-teach that.  Yea, I know that's not a word, but it is now.  So ha! I got that done.  With Ali, it was easy, she was always a little unsure and questioning about that one anyhow.  With Xan, we really didn't dispell that notion so much as go over what he did do.

Halloween, now that's a whole 'nother kettle of fishies this year.  With Ali's eczema, she can't do makeup or most costumes, and she LOVES dressing up.  I "think" we may have it figured out.  Also, mom has Xan in some kind of play at church on Halloween night so trick or treating went out the window.  We might figure out if a mall or something is doing it on Saturday.  Ali is going to a party on friday night and trick or treating with her friends on Sunday.  Mom isn't thrilled and I guess mason will miss his first Halloween.  He will go to church in costume and mom will have to get over it.

To teach the origin of Halloween will be tricky with mom helping so much this year.  She is a staunch Baptist and wants nothing to do with Halloween.  To her it is a church day (ALL DAY) and her son, my husbands, birthday.  Nothing more.  I was raised Pagan and my husband respects that.  So we teach Samhain and all surrounding that.  We camp out all of halloween weekend, I guess not halloween night this year, but oh well.  Not being in San Diego this year might make the weather interesting, but we will deal.

So, other than that, we are basically doing alot of oral work, watching documentaries, letting the boys play outside and discover fall.  Maybe unschooling a bit.  We will pick up more formal schooling as the weather gets colder.  We are working on a year-round schedule this year to accomodate health issues, so this works.

To those wanting to know, my cancer is being watched.  Kind of a wait and see approach. My muscular dystrophy meds are working to quell the worst of the pain so I can function.  Ali's eczema is getting better.  This flare up is almost over it seems, and I think we are on our way to an almost normal life.  HAHAHA ok, got that one out.  Take care all.
Amber, the fish mom.

A whole new set of problems

So today brings new teaching concepts for October and a whole new set of issues.  Alison, who is in 7th grade has been diagnosed with Dyshidrotic Eczema.  She has painful bumps on her hands and scaling, making it impossible to type or write.  Now I get to rewrite her lesson plan for more reading and oral work.  Wish me luck.