1.5 months left

I'm hitting the part of homeschooling where I struggle to go that last mile. Kindof like in a marathon -- there are a small, very small, few who are still striding galiantly toward the finish line. The largest group of the pack are walking and limping the last 3 miles. There are some who already quit due to injury or maybe poor training. Then there is the group that is plodding along simply concentrating on moving their feet to a rhythmic pattern...left, right, left right...focusing on just getting there. They are afraid that if they shift their speed by either slowing down or speeding up they will thwart any chance of making it.

I'm hoping I can end these last one and a half months with enthusiasm and creativity -- but I'll also be happy with the steady plodding....getting done what needs to get done. Today I am taking time to map out these last weeks and take some time to pray. I'm hoping that I end with the excitement of the beginning.

I don't homeschool because...

I don't homeschool because...

I'm hiding from the authorities.
I'm trying to keep my kids from learning as much as the public school kids.
I have a fear of other people's kids.
I'm a control freak.
I was picked on as a child.
I have genius kids who would be bored in any other setting.
I don't know what else to do with all my saintly qualities like "patience".

Benjamin is clapping for himself because he worked very hard at getting out baseballs from Jackson's baseball bucket and throwing them onto the floor. We clapped for him and so he clapped for himself and had a great time.

Now he claps everytime he stands up all by himself and throws anything. Audrey was disgusted with this "show off" brother of hers and thought he should be more humble and not be praising himself so much. I told her that he is just clapping after doing the things that we clap for -- to copy us, not praise himself. She felt better. I'm not sure if what I said was true or not, however, because who knows the inner workings of a 12 month old.

A special day with my daughter

Audrey and I held hands and felt the delightful freedom -- no big kids or baby interrupting our conversations. This day was just our own!

We walked hand in hand down the street to the Ice House. Converted into a small theatre, it was hosting a play by the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre called, "Charlottes Web". The building was still genuine enough to realize that it did indeed once hold ice harvested from the spring it was situated against.

Snuggles, laughs, smiles, side glances...all were shared together as we watched the production.
Afterwards we played together at the park beside the Ice House and walked a bit on the trail.

Without her brothers and sister to help chase her around the playground, we ran out of fun in about an hour so we headed to our favorite toy store on Main Street.

A cute baby chipmunk calico critter joined us as we left -- something to add to her collection and remind her of a day which was long over due...a day just for us two!

There are no short cuts to good parenting

I needed to go to the grocery store to pick up some necessary staples. I brought Benjamin with and he was not in the mood. As he kept lunging for different things, I let him play with a candy bar. I figured I'd buy it and in a moment of weakness I'd eat it, or put it in my "prize stash" for the kids. Benjamin was so happy, I knew I couldn't take away that shiny metalic wrapper yet. So, I put him in the car seat and away we drove.

Very strange noises were coming from the back seat. Benjamin sounded so elated -- it was a euphoric sound I have NEVER heard before. I checked him in the rear view mirror. The noises continued so I checked him again. It was then I noticed that somehow the wrapper completely unwrapped and he was munching on the chocolate and caramel coated cookie goodness. My arm never snatched anything away so quickly before, and Benjamin never howled so loudly before.

Chloe was suprised when we entered the house: Benjamin's face was covered in chocolate and as Chloe stated, "He smells just like Hershey's Chocolate World."

Ah, well...he survived.

Niagre Falls in the Winter

We couldn't believe how powerful the water was, even in the winter. Chunks of ice whirled and crashed over eddys and swirled around rocks. It was breathtaking in the winter. I'm so glad we made the drive and braved the cold, icy wind to see the falls. My favorite part was how amazing the trees looked, covered in a frosty layer of ice. The terrain under our feet was a thick layer of ice and we tromped on top as if we had snowshoes on. It was soooo cold, we didn't stay long. However, it was well worth the drive.

Favorite Pictures from December

Right before we left for MN, we had a lovely and rare December snow accumilation, and a not so rare but important visit to Chik Fil A. We knew that it would be our last visit with the cow and his tender chicken until our return.

We had a great time with friends and family. It wasn't long enough and we never had any days off school in our own home so we have extended school break this week so that we can get ourselves organized and geared up for the long stint of homeschooling that all moms approach with dread....the stretch of Jan-Feb-March.

This week I'll do some painting, organizing, pitching old stuff, cleaning rooms, and figuring out the homeschool plan for the second half of the year. Go Goodmans, Go!