Perspective

Taken at halftime.  Guess we should have held up two fingers.  Oops!

It was a sad day for us at approximately 10:15 (??) on Sunday evening when our beloved Patriots lost to the Eagles in the Super Bowl.  The kids were mopey, especially Calleigh who was also upset because she determined this meant she couldn't wear her Gronk jersey until the football season starts up again.  I admit I had a rough night of sleep because I kept waking up thinking all sorts of things...What if Brady had caught that pass? What if they hadn't missed the field goal? What if they had stopped them on third down after that time out with about eight and half minutes left in the game? What if the Vikings had beaten the Eagles? What if? What if?? It can drive you crazy!

I woke up Monday morning and it was just another day.  Don't get me wrong.  Sports are fun.  Sports can bring families together.  I have so many terrific memories from my childhood and adulthood that revolve around sports.  But as I sat around the school table that morning and looked at my children's faces, I saw that life was pretty much the same even though the Patriots lost. And that life is pretty darn good.  Plus, who would really want to hear me complain after they won two out of the three previous Super Bowls??

As I have probably mentioned in the past, I am teaching the 4-year old's this year for Sabbath School. which obviously that means that Colby is in my class.  It has been interesting because this is the first year that parents can leave their children. Occasionally a parent stays but mostly it's just me and a couple of helpers.  I can say without a doubt that boys are much more rambunctious than girls although there's at least one girl that's a handful.  It is a lot of fun though and I'm wondering if I will just stay in the class for next year or if I'll move up with Colby.  I am curious to see how he would do on his own.  Brady is still struggling on his own, unfortunately.  Ever since he thought we had left him in Adventurers back at the end of August, he refuses to stay anywhere without either an adult relative or a sibling. He will say repeatedly, "Make sure you tell Daddy that he has to come to Sabbath School with me." Duncan was enjoying going to adult Sabbath School but now he has to go with Brady every week.  I really, really hope this stage will pass before too long.

Since it was kind of a slow week, I thought I'd share some stuff about school.  This year we are doing My Father's World (MFW) - Rome to the Reformation.  Last year we studied "Creation to the Greeks" so now we've picked up where that left off.  I love history so much and it has been so much fun studying about Ancient Rome and the centuries following it.  Here are the other things the girls are doing:

Calleigh - 5th
Bible - MFW
History - MFW
Science - The Human Body, Astronomy (MFW)
English - Critical Thinking Company (CTC)
Writing - CTC
Reading - CTC, Abeka (doing timed readings)
Spelling - A Reason for Spelling Level E (fifth grade)
Math - Teaching Textbooks 5
Vocabulary - Latin using "English from the Roots Up"
Handwriting - MFW
Spanish - Duolingo
Art - Odds and ends (that's not a real thing)
Music - Among other things, about to start year 4 of piano lessons.
PE - Ice skating on Tuesday's, homeschool PE on Wednesday's, soccer on Sunday's when in season, and a big back yard!

Aubree - 3rd/4th
Bible - MFW
History - MFW
Science - The Human Body, Astronomy (MFW)
English - Critical Thinking Company (CTC) Level C (third grade)
Writing - CTC
Reading - CTC, Abeka (doing timed readings)
Spelling - A Reason for Spelling Level E (fifth grade)
Math - Teaching Textbooks 4
Vocabulary - Latin using ""English from the Roots Up"
Handwriting - MFW
Spanish - Duolingo
Art - Odds and ends (that's not a real thing)
Music - Among other things, about to start year 4 of piano lessons.
PE - Ice skating on Tuesday's, homeschool PE on Wednesday's, soccer on Sunday's when in season, and a big back yard!
Aubree is essentially doing all the same things as Calleigh except she's doing third grade English and fourth grade Math (and she'll be done with it in a few weeks). So she likes to say she's in third, fourth, and fifth grades!  The beauty of homeschooling right there. Brady is on the other end of the spectrum.  He is now 6.5 but isn't doing any school.  He's just not ready for it still.  He loves numbers and can add in his head quickly (he'll tell you that 16 + 16 = 32 with little thought) but he isn't ready for book work yet.  He is really good at playing with Colby though and those two keep themselves very occupied while the girls and I do school.  The nice thing is that I am registered under an umbrella school that doesn't require me to show portfolios or get the kids evaluated or anything so there is no pressure in forcing Brady to do school even though he is officially school age.  I am very grateful for that.  

One of our snack trays this week.

Jackpot! Went to a yard sale this morning and it was a homeschool mom selling a ton of books.  Textbooks were 3 for $1.00 and they are ones we actually use!  I was like a kid in a toy store.  She was super nice and she even had a son named Brady.

The dogs are doing pretty well. We have had them for a little over a year now and they've definitely calmed down in that time. They only have a bathroom accident every few months or so which was a big relief.  We have a doggie door from the house to the screened patio and then from the screened patio to the outside so it is nice not having to let them in and out all the time.  One disturbing thing is that they regularly drink pool water. I guess it's okay since they've done it for months?  But it seems like it would be bad with all those chemicals. They don't like to swim in the pool at all which I think it probably a good thing. When we first got them, it was hard to distinguish the personalities between the two. As time has gone on, though, Dasher has definitely taken on the ignomonious title of "The Bad One." He's the one who jumps up on the table, tries to steal food, tries to get in the trash, etc.  Today I was so looking forward to my Friday Mountain Dew.  The one day of the week I allow myself to indulge in the horribly-bad-for-you beverage. This afternoon I poured myself a glass of it...out of the last bottle I had been given in my stocking for Christmas. I sat down on the couch, put my feet up and took a sip.  So refreshing!  Life is good.  Then I heard Colby calling me from the bathroom to wipe his behind.  I go over and take care of business and then make my way back to the couch. To find Dasher standing there with his paws on the end table, lapping up my Mountain Dew like there was no tomorrow. Oh, I was SO MAD. I am an anti-germ phobe to be sure, but even I couldn't bring myself to drink it after the dog's tongue was in there. He's lucky the kids like him so much.

I don't have too much else to report so I'll just post a few more pictures here.

We went to Lake Lotus for Adventurers on Sabbath and worked on the ant and rock honor.  It appears the only photo I took is of the one kid not actually in Adventurers.

On Sunday, Pathfinders did an Honor Day which Calleigh attended from 8:00 - 5:00.  Allen was there the whole time teaching a woodworking honor.  He taught the kids to make a doghouse.  Major props to Allen for spending such a huge chunk of his day there.

Trying another meal delivery service.  We just finished Purple Carrot.  So far we put Hello Fresh above Purple Carrot. We will see if the order changes after six meals from these guys.

Hanging out at Costco.

When your sisters decorate your bed.  They hung lights from the "ceiling."

Hung out at Chapin Station after PE and met up with former neighbor, Nathan.  Not sure who the kid  in the front with the blue hair is but he seemed to fit right in with the group.

Painting some treasure boxes they got for Christmas from Uncle Russ and Aunt Saray

This week the kids have been big into playing music to make some money.  They made their own instruments putting rubber bands on soda bottles and filling bottles with rocks and using paper towel rolls for drumsticks.  Then they sing and play their instruments and ask for donations.

They do have some rules though.

Shucks, no smoking!

From the category of "Where do they get these ideas from?"

Me:"Brady, what do you want to eat?"
Brady:"I NEED tacos.  They are my FUEL."

Our memory verses for the last two weeks: