Well life is definitely not dull these days! I spend mornings either reading scripture or organizing the schoolwork for the day, next is breakfast, the kids Bible lessons, and dishes. Then we are onto laundry (which I hang because the hot weather has to benefit me in some way!) while the older kids read books to the younger ones. Then I take over the reading while the four older kids pull out their math books ans settle down to work.
When the older kids finish, I have them either journal or do some free reading while I work with the littles on their math. Then we all settle in for our unit study. Generally it takes about an hour and a half to two hours to read/discuss/work on projects so by two or three we are done with school for the day and at that time they can pretty much do whatever they want. The boys settle in to the living room with huge stacks of books sounding out short words and asking for help on the bigger ones. Tristan finds a quiet corner to read his Harry Potter books (AGAIN!) Heaven goes to her room to build playing card towns, and Mack and Ash generally play together. No stress, just individual interests!
By 4 pm we are eating and waiting for Chad to get home, then it's off to the gym for two hours. We are home by eight where the kids get about and hour and a half to watch one of the hundreds of dvds we own (or a redbox dvd, if it's Monday....their free that day!) and off to bed while Chad and I stick our noses in books.
Wednesday is park day with our homeschool group and Friday is "life skills day" we clean, we bake, we get the house ready for our usually busy weekends and then we try to head to the library in the afternoon.
So here is the thing, I have almost a hundred shows recorded on my DVR to watch. Mind you, I "couldn't live without them" just a few months ago but now I find myself trying to settle for sitting down and watching them, when there is so much other stuff I would rather be doing. A huge part of me wants to go cold turkey and cancel our satellite service, but the small part of me that hangs on to my old behaviors is clinging to it like a security blanket.
I guess I never expected, to enjoy my own life so much! All of the stress I had when the kids were "doing official school" just melted away and I am enjoying just hanging out with my family. Yes, there is still stress (no way around that with seven kids!) but we are thinking, reading, learning, and talking. So I am starting to see that there isn't much room for the distraction of tv!
Love and Hugs,
Mary
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Oh Wow! So much to Tell!
Ok, been neglecting, yet again! Not even sure where to start! Went through three crazy bouts of the cold/flu/stomach bug with all the kids since I last posted. It reaked havoc on my workout schedule and got us extremely behind on schoolwork.When the stress got completely insane about getting caught up on schoolwork so the kids wouldn't have to repeat a grade, I decided to pull them out of virtual school and go back to straight homeschooling.
Now this wasn't the only reason I pulled them, it just pushed up the date a bit. This year was a rough year with virtual school, trying to get services for the kids that they needed, being passed around from teacher to teacher without warning or explanation, having to jump through hoops all the time for unnecesssary medical testing, and the school being more focussed on completing curriculum and AIMS performance than how much the kids were actually learning. I finally figured out that the progress they were making had nothing to do with what the school was providing but was do to the adjustments I was making in teaching them. So now we are on our own!
We have done a few field trips, one to Luke Air Force Base for and air show (AJ now wants to be a pilot AND a fireman! (the kid is an adrenaline junkie!) and the County Fair! We are doing a unit study on the pioneers and segwaying that into farming so the fair fit in nicely. I have to say that I am once again realizing how fun it can be to learn with the kids! They are learning to think for themselves, and they are doing schoolwork without argument. They actually come up with assignments on their own!
We are also back at church. We got out of the habit when Chad had a weekend job because our weekends were nuts! But we figured we no longer had and excuse and we all seemed to have an urge to be there. It's funny how if you just sit still long enough you can hear GOD calling you!
Chad is doing well at work. His position got shifted around a bit, due to layoffs but he's managing to learn pretty much every position there. With the shortage of jobs out here we are kind of looking at this as a blessing. As long as he's still getting hours, we aren't going to complain!
The weight loss is still going well. I am currently at 32 pounds lost. It's nice actually seeing the difference in the mirror. With as busy as things have been lately I am only getting to the gym half the time I use to so I am trying to find some balance between all I have taken on so I can get back to being so consistent with the work out.
Well, I had better get my day going if I want to get anything done around here, hope all is well with everyone! I will post some pics when I get the chance!
Love and Hugs,
Mary
Now this wasn't the only reason I pulled them, it just pushed up the date a bit. This year was a rough year with virtual school, trying to get services for the kids that they needed, being passed around from teacher to teacher without warning or explanation, having to jump through hoops all the time for unnecesssary medical testing, and the school being more focussed on completing curriculum and AIMS performance than how much the kids were actually learning. I finally figured out that the progress they were making had nothing to do with what the school was providing but was do to the adjustments I was making in teaching them. So now we are on our own!
We have done a few field trips, one to Luke Air Force Base for and air show (AJ now wants to be a pilot AND a fireman! (the kid is an adrenaline junkie!) and the County Fair! We are doing a unit study on the pioneers and segwaying that into farming so the fair fit in nicely. I have to say that I am once again realizing how fun it can be to learn with the kids! They are learning to think for themselves, and they are doing schoolwork without argument. They actually come up with assignments on their own!
We are also back at church. We got out of the habit when Chad had a weekend job because our weekends were nuts! But we figured we no longer had and excuse and we all seemed to have an urge to be there. It's funny how if you just sit still long enough you can hear GOD calling you!
Chad is doing well at work. His position got shifted around a bit, due to layoffs but he's managing to learn pretty much every position there. With the shortage of jobs out here we are kind of looking at this as a blessing. As long as he's still getting hours, we aren't going to complain!
The weight loss is still going well. I am currently at 32 pounds lost. It's nice actually seeing the difference in the mirror. With as busy as things have been lately I am only getting to the gym half the time I use to so I am trying to find some balance between all I have taken on so I can get back to being so consistent with the work out.
Well, I had better get my day going if I want to get anything done around here, hope all is well with everyone! I will post some pics when I get the chance!
Love and Hugs,
Mary
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A buck and Change!
Well, big news, I am down under 200 lbs! it's 199 but it still counts! This is the first time since before Mack was born that I have been this low and I have to say I am REALLY HAPPY!!!!
Ok now that I have had my little party, on to current happenings. I know I have neglected the blog yet again, but seriously, the plague hit my house with a vengeance!!! For the last couple of weeks kids have been dropping like flies with fever, chills, coughs, sniffles and even vomitting! I was handling things pretty well until weekend before last when I got it too. In this house everything comes to a halt when Momma's sick!
So now we are playing catch up! Got tons of schoolwork to do now that we are better. I actually kind of freaked out last night when I realized we are three quarters of the way through the school year! How in the world did that happen????? Wasn't it just yesterday I was freaking out about my three babies being school aged?
Anyway, I guess I should get back to school since I have so much to catch up on so I will blog again soon!
Love and hugs,
Mary
Ok now that I have had my little party, on to current happenings. I know I have neglected the blog yet again, but seriously, the plague hit my house with a vengeance!!! For the last couple of weeks kids have been dropping like flies with fever, chills, coughs, sniffles and even vomitting! I was handling things pretty well until weekend before last when I got it too. In this house everything comes to a halt when Momma's sick!
So now we are playing catch up! Got tons of schoolwork to do now that we are better. I actually kind of freaked out last night when I realized we are three quarters of the way through the school year! How in the world did that happen????? Wasn't it just yesterday I was freaking out about my three babies being school aged?
Anyway, I guess I should get back to school since I have so much to catch up on so I will blog again soon!
Love and hugs,
Mary
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
May the TV R.I.P.
Our TV died yesterday! I know we really don't watch it as much as we use to but when we can't watch it we really notice it's absence! At least our taxes are coming so we will have the money for the new one!
Life is pretty normal today, playing catch up with schoolwork and dealing with household drama. Since I have started at the gym it's like I have gotten behind on everything else. How do these Supermoms juggle everything????
Hopefully soon I will figure out the secret!
Life is pretty normal today, playing catch up with schoolwork and dealing with household drama. Since I have started at the gym it's like I have gotten behind on everything else. How do these Supermoms juggle everything????
Hopefully soon I will figure out the secret!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Weekly weigh in
Well, the love/ hate relationship with my scale continues! One whopping pound last week for a grand total of 9.5 lbs! Wasn't really thrilled after busting my rear all week but Chad did his best to console me and told me that any loss is a good thing.
Did I mention he lost more than me? I know he loves me and was trying to make me feel better but it was a bitter pill to swallow coming from someone who was downright giddy when he got on the scale. He's been avoiding my evil eye for the last couple of days!
So I am stepping up the cardio this week and hoping for the best!
In other news, not much new is going on. LOL! I know my life is pretty uneventful but that's ok. Raven is still dealing with the cold from before although now it seems to be moving down to his chest. Poor little guy has a nasty cough that keeps him up at night, even after having cough syrup. I hope he gets over it soon!
Well I guess I had better get back to school work with the kiddos.
Love and hugs,
Mary
Did I mention he lost more than me? I know he loves me and was trying to make me feel better but it was a bitter pill to swallow coming from someone who was downright giddy when he got on the scale. He's been avoiding my evil eye for the last couple of days!
So I am stepping up the cardio this week and hoping for the best!
In other news, not much new is going on. LOL! I know my life is pretty uneventful but that's ok. Raven is still dealing with the cold from before although now it seems to be moving down to his chest. Poor little guy has a nasty cough that keeps him up at night, even after having cough syrup. I hope he gets over it soon!
Well I guess I had better get back to school work with the kiddos.
Love and hugs,
Mary
Friday, January 30, 2009
It's such a great day!
Well the sun is shining, DIBELS is behind me, so I thought I would blog and spread around my sunshine! Right now I am sitting ON my desk because my seven darlings are scrubbing the floors. I decided to not worry about school today, as the Speech therapist will be here tomorrow and we wil most likely throw in some other schoolwork to round out the day. So today I decided to get the house into shape.
I love the younger kids because they think cleaning is fun (haven't let the older kids convince them otherwise, yet) so they are running around with spray bottles cleaning everything. The older kids can't be upstaged by the littles, so they jumped on the clean the house bandwagon too....AHHHHHHH! LIFE IS GOOD!
No weight updates yet, have to wait for Sunday for that and I can't tell you how hard it is to wait. The scale and I have a serious love hate relationship. I hate it up until it gives me good news then it's my best buddy. I know I shouldn't be so wrapped up in a number, but I wait all week for that proof that all my work hasn't been for nothing!
So for now I guess I will close, Chad should be home soon he gets off early or takes Fridays off, depending on what week it is. It sucks for the paycheck but is nice for his doctor's appointments. only two more and he should be in great shape with his knee....YAY!
So until later,
Love and hugs,
Mary
I love the younger kids because they think cleaning is fun (haven't let the older kids convince them otherwise, yet) so they are running around with spray bottles cleaning everything. The older kids can't be upstaged by the littles, so they jumped on the clean the house bandwagon too....AHHHHHHH! LIFE IS GOOD!
No weight updates yet, have to wait for Sunday for that and I can't tell you how hard it is to wait. The scale and I have a serious love hate relationship. I hate it up until it gives me good news then it's my best buddy. I know I shouldn't be so wrapped up in a number, but I wait all week for that proof that all my work hasn't been for nothing!
So for now I guess I will close, Chad should be home soon he gets off early or takes Fridays off, depending on what week it is. It sucks for the paycheck but is nice for his doctor's appointments. only two more and he should be in great shape with his knee....YAY!
So until later,
Love and hugs,
Mary
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Update on me
Well thought I would give y'all an update since I am trying really hard not to neglect my poor blog. I am four weeks into this new lifestyle and I am 8.5 pounds lighter, WOOHOO! (right now I am imagining 8.5 pounds of fat and getting totally grossed out!) I am a little miffed at Chad who has lost way more than that but what can I do?
I am hitting the gym 5 days a week and hitting the treadmill every single day. I am still running on the mentality that I have to work for my food and so far it seems to be working for me. LOL! I don;t complain much anymore and I am learning that no matter how hard it seems, I will feel better later for it!
Been trying to get into the swing of things with school but the kids have been getting sick left and right so it makes schoolwork pretty hit and miss. I am constantly playing catch up! I will get it all figured out.
Tomorrow is DIBELS testing. I hate DIBELS! The teachers all freak out about it and I think it's kind of useless, but that's just me!
Last weekend we fixed the fence that was the unfortunate casualty of the tree coming down. Chad figured it all out pretty quickly and decided that of all the things he could do with his life masonry is not one that he would choose! LOL! Apparently it's too much of a pain in the rear to really enjoy doing.
OK all have to get dinner on the table, the natvies get restless if you don't feed them! Bye for now!
Love and hugs,
Mary
I am hitting the gym 5 days a week and hitting the treadmill every single day. I am still running on the mentality that I have to work for my food and so far it seems to be working for me. LOL! I don;t complain much anymore and I am learning that no matter how hard it seems, I will feel better later for it!
Been trying to get into the swing of things with school but the kids have been getting sick left and right so it makes schoolwork pretty hit and miss. I am constantly playing catch up! I will get it all figured out.
Tomorrow is DIBELS testing. I hate DIBELS! The teachers all freak out about it and I think it's kind of useless, but that's just me!
Last weekend we fixed the fence that was the unfortunate casualty of the tree coming down. Chad figured it all out pretty quickly and decided that of all the things he could do with his life masonry is not one that he would choose! LOL! Apparently it's too much of a pain in the rear to really enjoy doing.
OK all have to get dinner on the table, the natvies get restless if you don't feed them! Bye for now!
Love and hugs,
Mary
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