Week two, 8th

I'm not going to post daily but will update this post through the week based on day.  I may have nothing to say ;)



MONDAY

Week two seems to be off to a rousing start.  We have a new diversion in the house, I've named her Alice. Good grief, 2 dogs, 6 chickens and now...a puppy! What am I thinking?!?!
     

I am sort of hard core when it comes to dog training so, cute as she is, we're in full on crate training.  Her daytime schedule is 2 hours crated, 1 hour out, no squealing, whining or barking allowed.  So far, she's spot on and hasn't made a peep.  She's also not allowed to come out of the crate until I invite her, also, she's nailing it and waiting patiently until I open the door and then stand back and invite her to come out.  As I said, cute or no, I have things to do and I'm hard core :)  She'll be trained quickly because she's smart, I'm consistent as hell and Lola and Walter are doing all the work for me :).  My dogs are bell trained and it took Alice all of 30 minutes to figure out the bell ringing (Lola and Walter both ring it) means the doors is opening and we're all going out.  She also comes to her name already!  (I changed it to Alice because, well she LOOKS like an Alice)  She is in the crate all night, 11-6:30 without a peep and isn't making a sound when I pop her into the crate so I can get something done.  Puppies are never.ever.ever unsupervised at my house, even for a second.  No accidents so far :)  

I turned my office/craft room/ sewing room/ writing den/ classroom back into the space we needed after transforming it into a sewing space to finish a rug that was ordered from my Etsy store.  I am suspending the store (for the craft stuff) for the time being.  I can't do both in here and I prefer to write.  I finished one rug, at the cost (almost) of the top of my finger, a gash which I keep reopening *ouch*  I am going to trim and ship the white rug and am going to return the money of the second rug.  I don't have the teeshirts here and have no intention of going to shop for them then cut them then make the rug for the cost I charged.  I set the price when I was making them regularly and had the t's in stock.  I am trying not to feel like a failure.  I just don't feel it anymore.  I think it's because I finally made the decision to move on, to write, to follow my passion and am feeling obligated to make these tshag rugs and you can't be creative and happy if you feel obligated.  That's my thought anyway. 

Science, Latin and Physics went fine today.  I did buy the Banker an iBook for his iPad, Newton's Laws, for him to use in conjunction with his Khan Physics.  He's delighted. 

We have a good system with the big purple binder that we pass back and forth with notes and expectations and schedule, daily agenda and completed work.  It's like a game of tag, you're free until it's your turn to work in the binder! 

He finished by 1pm today and is on full puppy duty, I hear giggling and cartoons and the odd happy puppy noise coming from the other room.  Most excellent. I think I'll make him garlic cheese biscuits to go with the farfalle with two sauces I'm doing for dinner.

/Tracy

WEDNESDAY

The week has been a rousing academic success, well, up until 10:30 on day 3.  The Banker got all the work done on Monday he needed to, all the work yesterday and is well on his way on MathUSee day today.   I finally *ooops* graded the rest of his tests from earlier weeks and discovered there was one that he failed miserably.  I mean there's failing a test then there's failing miserably.  The good thing about such an abysmal score is that he was obviously thinking about something completely different.  He was so far off that I think he wasn't paying attention or something else was going on that day.

When I sit and think about it, I seem to recall he did a bunch of tests that one day and this may have been the last one or he was just done with it all. I get that.  He is going to redo the test today, gotta love home school...  the retake without worry or ramifications.  That makes me happy.  He was sort of surprised when I told him how horribly he'd done and agreed he was just off.  You're allowed to be off when you're in the 8th grade, you can't be off when you're in high schools exams or college placement tests but he's 13 and working at home so he is absolutely, completely, allowed to have an 'off' day.

I'm also going to test a theory and give him 'review pages" at the end of each chapter instead of 'tests'.  We are having a hellish day because he's shattered about failure. Having him redo a chapter (at my request as opposed to his decision to review the work) is being met with drama befitting of a 15 year old girl rebuffed in the lunch room over a love note.  *gack*

I'm not delighted.

Alice, that puppy, isn't interfering too much.  I am a hardcore crate trainer so she is in her crate from 9-11:30 every morning so she can rest (hahahaha) sure, we'll say that.  It's so we can get our stuff done and it prepares her for when we go out, did I mention I really really need to go out.  She comes out of the crate for about 1 1/2 hours then starts to fade so we crate her for another 2 hours.  That schedule seems to work for her and then she's ready for bed at about 11 or so and she's down for the night and back up around 6:30.  Not a peep in the night, this is my kind of puppy!

I am going to start the Banker on his photography class later today if for no other reason as for the diversion.  I'm sending him out with a camera.  Sure, we could talk about theory and history, naw, he's going to take pictures, experiment with hue and focus and the best way to learn what the million buttons on my Samsung digital camera do is to use them.

I'm thinking it might be wine time already. I have a hissy pissy teenage boy doing math in a snort and the puppy is only good for another half hour before I have to go be perky and joyful (and I'm in no mood suddenly).  I should take my window of opportunity here and now.

/tracy

FRIDAY

Well, what a week, with my ridiculous decision to get a puppy, which is going beautifully by the way, then the drama that was trying to get through a 12 hour school day and today, one of my chickens laid their first egg!  In the nesting box, wow.  I'm over the moon excited about it.  It's a little thing, barely brown and it's a big bowl on my counter waiting for more so we can have a meal.  I am not going to get anything done today for running outside to check the run, the yard and the coop for another!!

School kicked our butt this week a little bit.  We did math for an entire day which pushed everything back a day and today, which is supposed to be our 'free' day, is going to spent on the final math test then chapter for this week to bring us back in line.

The Banker told me he doesn't feel well and has gone to lay down.  I don't think he feels ill, I think he feels guilty from a little drama outburst he had at bedtime last night.  He wakes up feeling guilty when he's acted like that.  That's a good thing.  I'd be upset if he didn't give a damn about acting like a mouthy 'i know everything and you are obviously an idiot' teenager.

I think it's going to be a low key day and that's fine.  We are in week 2, are up to date on everything I wanted to be into by now and if we put off the next math chapter for a week then so be it.

I realize it's a short week next week and then we lose Friday by having the CoOp start.  Yeah, my time is ticking away there.  I'm still trying not to fret, even with the diversion of Alice and the chickens' egg I am feeling pretty consistently ill about the whole thing.  I will have to decide which subject stream day we blow off.  Just because Monday is Latin/Science/Physics doesn't mean that's the day we'll lose on a holiday.  I'll talk to the Banker about it

I think friends are coming over on Monday to talk about a food trailer (be still my heart) and even if we weren't having people come play, I think we are going to take all the school holidays off.

I have to research chickens today, about their laying habits, I can't spend every minute wondering if I should run into my backyard to check for an egg!  ACK!  I'm excited **GRIN**

Have a happy weekend, I have work to do.

/Tracy

Summer Schedule Week 5

It was a crazy week and then a crazy weekend.  I haven't exactly figured out how we got so perpetually occupied.  I think I like it but honestly, the jury is still out. 


The girls are getting bigger by the day, they are a joy, a delight and on the weekend, NeighborL introduced me to NeighborD after all these years of living around the corner from each other.  It's nice to have more people to play with ;).  NeighborD has a 13 yr old grandson who comes to hang out periodically so we are going to introduce him to Banker, maybe have them come over for a swim and chicken stare.  It'll be nice for Banker to meet more kids his age.  He only knows one in the neighborhood. 


I've also been thinking seriously about looking into the new science high school here in my neighborhood.  It's for the cream of the crop kids and it might be something to investigate for 10th or later grade?  Banker and I discussed it and we will go check it out next year sometime as a field trip.  It's supposed to be a lottery, the admissions, but we all know the smart kids get put where they need to be so if I wanted in, I really don't see any reason he wouldn't be in.  His old Middle School's Principal sent her teachers to this school to learn and experience what she hopes her school can one day be, that's reasonably high praise in my books.  Say what I will about the public school system, that Principal was all about improving her school...so if she thinks this place near me is the bomb then I think it's worth a look down the road.


Considering I have felt too far away for anyone to come play with us, we have been with constant home company which is proving to be one of the best summers we've ever had.  Who'd have thought stay-cations could be so lovely. 


This week we have gatherings happening here 4 of the 5 days.  I wanted Math to happen but I truly don't see it working out until Thursday ?!  Banker is like me, we function best in the morning.  I agree that there's no way we can start anything even close to math related at 2-3pm, gadzooks. 


I think I'll have him start on his Tom Sawyer read.  He moaned at me that I asked him to read it on his iPad. Really?  THAT is what you're going to moan about?  Oh darn, don't make me read on the latest piece of technology, mom!  *sigh*  13 is not a pretty age sometimes.  First world problems really drive me quite mad.  I should go and buy an old tattered version of the book and have him sit and read that instead of the electronic version.  I'm just being tight, he has a Nook e-reader but I already have the book on the iPad for free and am so disenchanted with Banker's eye rolling lately that I don't even want to spend the $2.99 to get the book for the reader.  Bad mother or just tired?  I think tired...of it.  I will concede the point that I have it easier than mothers of teenage girls or multiples at the moment but it doesn't make it any less frustrating, though fleeting drama pants moments, they are still exhausting.


I'm trying to be crafty and get my Etsy store organized with the recycled tshirt stuff.  My store is called Tracys Altered Reality, if you search that I actually come up, it's pretty cool.  I only have one listing, the pixie coats I was making but the rest should be up this week, the t-shag rugs and pillows and other things that used to be other things ;).  I need about 3 uninterrupted days to work on this stuff, hopefully today will see a large piece of work done.  FriendC is coming to help me cut tshirts and Banker will be occupied with FriendA and siblings and cousin.  They ought to have fun, hopefully they'll swim and watch chickens and keep out of my hair.


The week looks like this: 


Monday; FriendC and gang - tshirts and working on prototype creation and completion for Etsy store. 


Tuesday:  FriendR and son - it's mother/son/mother/son/chicken day.  Visiting, floating, cocktailing and nibbling. 


Wednesday:  Rubberglove at the GW day.  With offspring, they can dig for tshirts and treasures with FriendE and I.  We will toss them food at a very cool local Mexican dive as payment.


Thursday:  NOTHING! (as of 9am Monday) 


Friday:  FriendS with R and hubba.  Mozzarella making day!  I haven't made mozzarella before and am really looking forward to it.  I have 2 methods we are going to try since were into it anyway.  I'll make copious amounts of homemade italian bread to use as a transportation device.  To get cheese to mouth.  I anticipate a lovely day of cocktails, cooking, visiting, floating and chicken watching. Husband is trying to get out of work early to come play. 

So, ready or not week, here we go!

/Tracy

Summer Schedule Week 3

What a weekend, wow.  A busy time, loads of fun and loads of running around.  Loads of new people, lovely visiting and special moments.  I giggled and I was surprised by a kindness.  I liked it. 


Banker slept over with a friend Sunday night and husband I spent quality time watching Game of Thrones.  He ate, I watched.  He ran out to get himself a Freebirds burrito, I'm not a Freebirds fan so I didn't eat.  Random but it worked I guess.  


I have had 2 hours all by myself this morning.  I haven't had time alone since February it seems.  I need more time alone. I was about drooling waiting for husband to get out the door by 9:15am.  I swear he leaves later every day, what happened to the 7:45 am depart time?  We used to pass on the highway when I was on my way back from dropping Banker.  I drives me insane and I can't start anything until he leaves.  I guess he prefers to start late and not be home for dinner...for 4 years.  I'm not going there today. 


I've enjoyed my solo time and used it wisely making bread.  I like the feel of it, the process of it and I'm starting to think maybe I should give lessons...the kind where people pay me.  I'll have to think more about that. 


I am going to stop for groceries on the way to get Banker then stop to get FriendA to come hang out and swim with him.  He'll be over tired and hopefully not too grumpy, she'll put him in line if he is ;)


We are having today as a recoup day and tomorrow will be school.  He has to do a chapter test then do the next chapter and lesson review/practice after.  I think it'll take him most of the day.  He can use a good focused day.  I'm not going to let him whine his way out of it, it'll be interesting to see how the break has affected him, he'll either be delighted to be back into it or perish from the trauma of it.  Either way I fully anticipate spending time reading the trashy book everyone is talking about.  I started it, it's poorly written, but I'm hoping the entertainment value will supersede the challenging language and grammar issues.




/Tracy


TUESDAY


The Banker slept till almost noon.  There's no work happening today.  I cooked, I cleaned I did a load of laundry.  I blogged and thought about ways to use the fabric I have to separate people from their money. 


I arranged a play date with people I really like and don't see nearly enough.  My friends, not my son's friend's mother's.  I'm tickled at the prospect.  Turns out the play has turned into a break making day, added bonus!  The only thing I like better than making bread is showing my friends how to do it and the only thing better than that is doing it with wine! 


The Banker, bless him, has wandered around in a daze, swam, snacked and is moving in slow motion.  If he wasn't 13 I'd swear he was hung over.  I told him he could take the day to recover.  Nothing like too much fun to do you in. 


We are going to watch the Transit of Venus online so our retinas don't get burned out.  See, I'm always thinking and taking care of us  *heheheh*.


http://events.slooh.com/

Our party day tomorrow has been cancelled/moved which is fine, we'll work tomorrow and play later in the week.  Ahh, love a plan. 


I think it's cocktail time. 


/Tracy

Summer Schedule day 4

Ahh, the quiet of a husband who left on time (well, 9 which is about 2 hours after my time) and a child still sleeping.  Dogs who are wandering and sniffing and chickens who are peacefully scratching.  I like these few moments I try to steal away. 


I'm looking online to order a seed thing (from gardens alive!) that MsZan's husband, has been touting on Facebook.  I like the idea of being able to grab my own sprouts, I really like them and never buy them.  Apparently $25 will hook me up and I am almost sure I will get $25 worth of joy out of it.


I plan on a quiet day for Banker and I.  Husband is out tonight, on his weekly man-date.  I SERIOUSLY  need to book my own weekly, till the wee hours, girl-date because husband thinking he needs to get out more than me who spends 24/7 here with someone 13, well, really, get a grip dude.  Anyway, husband on a man-date night means the Banker and I play without watching a clock.  We tend to eat early, eat something fantastic that just he and I like and climb into bed to watch a movie and fall asleep.  Sounds dull, I'm sure, but we love it and look forward to it.  It's school-free time, mom/son night and that's why I paid my dollar...for times like these.


I say, 'times like these' but we have to get there first.  Remember the Banker is screen free today, totally.  I see a lot of eye rolling, sighing and periodic moaning in my day.  I think that since I'm prepared for it, I'll cope better (hahahahaha  no).  He has to do his math test from yesterday, do 10 or so grammar sheets, IN ORDER, and get back into that book.  He says he hates the book, yes, it's STILL 20,000 Leagues, but when he's reading it he runs to me with interesting tidbits and tells me how great it is.  I think he hates the idea of it but when he's inside it, he's happy.  I vow, here, not to cook and eat him when I tell him to go read and he announces back to me, "but mom, it has a screen!".  He's pulled that before when he's been screen banned, really, how do any 13 year olds become 14 year olds?  But today, there'll be no selling to gypsies today for such commentary, nope, it's mother/son night and I'm not going to let said son wreck the day so as to impede the joy I get from mother/son night.  


I'm going to make more cookies, I'm trying to perfect a recipe I made up.  I'm going to make an apple cobbler, because I can.  I will play with chickens, pat dogs and I might paint my toenails bright red.  I am going to sew a mug-rug or two and I am going to play online.  That's the full extend of my involvement in the human race today.  The banker will be working and moaning. 


Ahhh, summertime.


/Tracy

Summer Schedule day 3

Well, it started out great.  Math day in the summer.  Banker worked through his chapter, had a couple of moments where none of it really made sense but we worked our way through and all was completed.  I think he got it ultimately as well which is a joy.  


We had the girls in their run a few times today and they and Lola got along just fine, it was a joy to see both chickens and dogs not really caring about the other's existence.  Sweet. 


On the down side, I discovered some duplication in his Grammar work.  We use Grammar101 and it turns out kiddo did a number of the exercises three or four times.  I am going to assume it wasn't intentional, it wasn't exactly difficult work.  We had a solid conversation about how to ensure work isn't being repeated and I am relatively confident we won't have a repeat of the repeats. 


On the really really down side, we descended into online "just a minute", which is one of the few things to climb directly up my nose and into my brain where it explodes into a zillion pieces.  I will not be told, "just a minute", particularly when it involves, on any level, that stupid Xbox.  I finally marched upstairs and simply unplugged it, and him, from the universe.  I'll have to sit and think about how long to deny him screens of any kind.  Maybe a couple of days of complete screen free time will reinforce the fact that "just a minute" is never the correct reply to me, ever.


I see loads of vacuuming, dishes, laundry and dusting in the Banker's future.  I really want to march upstairs and demand he read for hours on end but I won't use reading as a punishment so I'll just let him pout.  I'll include "finish book" in tomorrows list of "since you're not allowed to look at a screen you'll have to do something ELSE" instructions.


I hate bad choices, it's messing with my groove.


/Tracy

Day One Hundred and One

We made it, we're done. Well, we're done formal daily school.  I didn't think we'd get here but we did. 


The Banker just completed his chapter 12 MathUSee test and scored 100, yay.  He has some work to make up from the week that was waylayed by parties, playing and company that he will complete this weekend. 


Monday starts summer schedule!  1/2 day of Math/week; 1/2 day grammar/language/week; daily reading; as much Khan as he wants and an online college (not for credit) computer science program (just for fun).


I have my list of 8th grade subjects and a general plan.  I have some details to finalize and have to meet with a friend who is writing his science curriculum.  I like being done. 


Husband is home today, sitting outside, smoking playing on his iPad, getting annoyed with Banker singing and humming.  I don't get it.  I'll never get it.


We are heading to the movies, we're seeing Avengers!  Then I hope to grab some netting to make a generic containment field for the Girls so that I can let them out to stretch and run in green when we get home.  


FriendK and son are supposed to venture our way this afternoon and have happy hour here. 


most excellent. 


/Tracy

Day ONE HUNDRED

Wow.  What a great day yesterday we had.  We didn't do any work but I got to spend time with grown up friends while the Banker visited then entertained.  There was laughter emanating from my relatively destroyed game room for hours and hours.  I chatted and visited.  I commiserated and got some support from friends on some decisions.  I made plans for next week.  It was a grand day.  


In school related news.  


I am discontinuing Time4Learning today.  It filled a gap, gave the Banker a curriculum to leap to from jumping the public school ship.  I think it's too young for him now, it's time to move on.  I am cancelling it today.  


I am ending formal school this week.  Math and English will continue through the summer, so will reading.  He is going to have to read Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Uncle Tom's Cabin this summer.  Luckily, FriendA has to read them too so they can moan together.  I offered dinner and a "book club" review when they finish each book, that met with some support.  I love a plan. 


FriendE and I were brilliant yesterday.  As we sat at the table talking about Texas education and Austin schools ... we suddenly realized Texas is 24th and has a "D" grade in education for the country, so we researched who had the best and came up with Massachusetts as the solid winner.  We searched the MA education agency and schools and found fabulous links to the books, curriculum and plans for their 8th graders.  Oh hello, yes, we'll be utilizing THAT information.  The Austin 8th grade curriculum links are password protected. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  What's so secret about what you're teaching our 8th graders??  MA's 8th grade curriculum, online books and resources provides passwords and user names.  Wow, way to support the youth of America.    I will absolutely be utilizing out of state resources, the local ones are sad, archaic and apparently so secret that parents aren't to be trusted viewing them, or WORSE, letting the children see!  


I have a really good feeling about 8th grade.  I have solid plans and solid plans to get more information from friends and online.  I think it's going to be great. 


I haven't broken the news to Banker that this is his final "formal" week of 7th grade just yet but I am telling the home school mothers around me so they have a head's up.  I'm all about the village :) 


This is our remaining work day this week, we played all day yesterday and are playing all day tomorrow.  Husband is off work and I decided to embrace it.  We are all going to a 12:30 movie then FriendK and her son are coming up for a visit.  I will throw the boys upstairs and she and I will drink wine, look at chickens and relax and visit.  I'm really really looking forward to it.  Really. 


I'm going to make bread today, make smoothies, and I am actually going to sew something!  I want to make a "mug rug" and dammit, I am going to!  We used to call them mini place mats but now they have a hip cool name.  Bigger than a coaster and smaller than a place mat, I can put my coffee and a small plate or just a pile of chips on it.  It'll soak the condensation ring from the cold drinks and just look pretty under my hot ones.    Banker and his microscope can move to the other side of the room, I am taking my studio back!  After I make a couple, I am going to invite FriendA to come and make some for her mom, her house and her life.  She needs to sew more anyway.  


Ok, there's a day, there's a plan and husband went to work and Banker is still asleep.  I am going to enjoy the complete and total silence for just a few moments. 


*seriously, how DOES he do that?*  as I was about to press "Publish" the child appeared on the stairs.  Ok, so no silence today but that's ok, we have work to do.


/Tracy

Day Ninety Eight

I feel as though we are finally back in the groove.  The Banker is sitting across from me with his gigantic banana strawberry smoothie, (I love my new Ninja! blender!) he has his schedule for the week before him, headphones on, MathUSee video program running on his laptop double screen and I'm furiously trying to get my blog/s done, bread is rising and my coffee is sitting in front of me slowly going cold.  Ahhhhh, routine! Ahhhhhhh, math day.

"Chicken" (the lover of the group)

It rained AGAIN on my girls (chickens 7 weeks old tomorrow!) last night, we threw a tarp over the 'open' area of their coop in an attempt to keep them slightly dry on that side.  The shavings I put down on the weekend really helped stopping it from turning into a mud pit.  When the rain subsides, I'll muck it out and add some dry shavings.  I'll admit it, I secretly like being a farmer :-)

I let the Banker blow off, sort of, loads of time yesterday.  He was SO enjoying the Walking with Monsters series (Netflix how I love you) and ended up watching the entire series in one sitting.  Now then, look what I said, "blow off" time, really?  I need to get over the idea that doing something unconventional isn't educational.  Geesh, c'mon me.

There's got to be information in there and he shouted knowledge tidbits at me throughout the afternoon.  You have to be absorbing information when you are so happy about being given it.  I was also very proud of myself and did not have him take notes in my home school mantra of 'it's only educational and it only counts as "school" if you take copious amounts of notes'.  See, it only took me 98 days to figure that out.  I'm slow but I'm steady and I do get it, eventually.

After the documentaries, we decided to do some more microscope work, that thing rocks.  I killed a fly in the kitchen which was immediately put onto a slide to be observed close up and personal.  It was, unfortunately still twitching and freaked the Banker out.  Me too!  Later I squished another one, substantially more forcefully, pulled off a wing and legs to check out up close.  Euwww, very hairy! and who knew they had hair on their wings?!  Anyway, I put the body underneath to check out those mandibles and, oh my god, they were still twitching.  I threw it away.  No, seriously, it would have freaked the Banker out to see a fly STILL twitching after the removal of parts.  Next time, I'll make very very sure it's very very dead.  It's Science day again on Thursday this week, there'll be loads of microscope work, it's very cool.

I've been thinking about doing some sewing but still can't wrap my head around going in there to sew when he's sitting here working online.  I keep saying it'll find it's level but really, I'd like it to be sooner rather than later.

I'm feeling a little housebound and a little friend challenged lately too.  I see FriendC loads and cyber visit with friends through Facebook and Texting briefly but really, I need some 'live' grownup girlfriend time and am sending out invitations that aren't being answered (either way) as quickly as my lonely soul would like, I'm sure it's not personal that we're all as busy as each other so I'm not getting into a funk just yet but I reserve the right to delve headlong into a thumb sucking, "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to the garden to eat worms..." moment in the not too distant future.  I will organize another Ladies who Lunch soon as well, hopefully before school is out although I wouldn't mind doing a couple with a couple of the public school kids in tow, I like some of them.  I'm also in a little funk for the lack of invitations anywhere.  I think it's funny that when I throw that sentence out, I get loads of replies from friends telling me how busy I always am, I guess it's the perception sometimes, plus my mom was just here for 2 weeks and we were busy every day, maybe it's partly vacation hostess letdown as well.

I think when husband gets the pool up it'll help tempt my southside living friends up north to me to hang about.  I've started making, "wow, when the pool is up it's going to be just perfect back here" noises.  We will see if he takes the bait.

Ok, there's my moan d'jour.  I feel good about the academics today and still plan on a massive review at the end of the week about wrapping this up and getting some dates set for completion.

I'm going to go blend something...Ninja style!

/Tracy

Day Ninety Seven

We lived through the weekend.  I hated Saturday, like all my weekends, but I made some of my own fun.  I went to Calahan's Country Store and bought wood chips for the girls, downstairs and in their apartment.  It immediately eliminated the mud pit.  FriendC came  by with more overgrown chard stalks, about 3 inches around! for the girls to jump on, chew on and generally play with and eat.  Yay. 


The boys did me proud on Sunday, Mother's Day.  I was spoiled with loving cards from them, lovely notes and then they surprised me with a Ninja (blender).  We all went to the grocery store to load up on fresh fruit and veggies to make smoothies and all manner of things and I'm going to be playing all week with the silly thing.  We had smoothies last night, made snow and ice cream as well last night.  This morning, husband actually ASKED me to make him a smoothie which he then ENJOYED and TOLD ME he liked it!  it was a delightful surprise.


I made banana strawberry smoothies for Banker and I to start our day while we discussed the end of the year. I've done a quick review of the lesson plans of the middle schools in the area and think we've successfully covered everything they have.  We are spending today reading and then the afternoon will be dinosaur documentaries Banker has been meaning to watch.  He pulled the, "it's science, ecology, history, astrology AND cosmology, mom!" card and I happily acquiesced.  


I'm writing his schedule now, he's excited for another day of microscope work, he thoroughly enjoyed having the time to spend on it last week.  I may move the schedule around so FriendA can come spend some science day here with the Banker, she seemed enthralled with it when she was here and Banker was excited showing off his squished ant head under massive magnification! 


I feel very close to the end of the year.  We agreed to do another review at the end of the week.  We are not going to take the summer off, Banker will do one morning per week of math, working through the prealgebra MathUSee, one chapter/week and he'll do one morning per week, formally, of English.  The English will be in the form of grammar, comprehension, dictionary hide and seek.  I expect him to read daily or close to daily.  He seemed happy with the expectation so once I determine we've completed what I wanted to complete, I'll kick him loose formally and will start work on his schedule for next year.  


I still need to get with the science gal, who is writing some of his curriculum for me and then I'll meet with MsZan and see if there's any schedule/plan overlap I can steal/use/borrow/work in tandem with Banker and FriendH at all during the next academic year. 


I'm holding off opinion on how I feel it's gone.  There have been solid ups and solid downs.  It's been more emotional (for me) than I thought and Banker has really matured during the experience.  NOT in a good way.  I don't think he'd have been nearly to challenging in public school and although it got up my nose, I think it's been the best thing for him.  The freedom and safety to take on authority, rules, expectations and see how it all plays out.  I didn't cook him or sell him to gypsies, that's a pleasant surprise to both of us.


The girls are getting gigantic, loving their coop and apartment but I still need to get them out of there to run.  I'm afraid they'll take off or try to fly away or that I won't be able to catch them.  I guess I need a moderate form of containment before I let them go.  I want them to have more freedom, the coop is already seeming crowded and once they are much taller, they'll have to duck when they are downstairs at all.


We made noises about husband putting up the pool in the not too distant future so hopefully that'll happen soon.  With my newly done back yard, I intend on spending a lot of time out there floating and generally enjoying life offline.  I hope to have loads of people here all the time to play with me and have loads of time just me.  I hope it'll be good.


At the end of the day, I think I didn't break the Banker all the way.  I think he's a good guy, he cares and even though I don't see any reason at all for me to actually LIKE 13, I peek in on him sleeping and realize I wouldn't change a thing. :) 


/Tracy

Day Ninety Two

We hardly did any school yesterday, I was way overtired and felt frantic all day.  Banker decided he wanted to move into the guest room, the smaller bedroom he shares a bathroom with.  He said a smaller room is easier to keep clean and organized and I couldn't argue that logic.  We spent time time moving some of his things from one room to the other.  I think it'll ultimately make it easier to clean his room because we'll touch everything going into the smaller room and it'll either fit or go out.  I have friends coming this summer and again in the fall so it'll be nice for them to have a big guest room.  Anyway, it'll be a great way to purge. 


Today it's back to the grind. 


I redid the schedule for this week, moving days around and putting the most important stuff on it, math, science, English, and leaving some, typing, grammar games, brain pop type sites, etc., for next week.  It's math day. He has to spend time doing review of the final chapter in T4L then one chapter, lesson and systematic review then test in MathUSee.  OH, then he's going to wash my floor, and I'm going to watch him do it, with a coffee or better yet with a glass of wine and a cocktail.  


How does floor washing go with math you may ask?  Oh, The Banker made another bad bad choice last night.  I am trying to decide if I'm in a snit about the actual infraction, the potential for damaging a very expensive piece of technology or the sneaky factor?  Thank God he didn't lie about it though, I'd have truly exploded for that.  I am so past getting angry about it, it's upset him more that I'm not moaning at him but rather just shook my head but did tell him how terribly disappointed I am.  


I am, however, quietly sitting here trying to figure out how to fix the ongoing choice problem.  My gut reaction says freedom, he's got too much freedom.  That's easy to fix.  I am going to re-add the parental controls on everything he touches and we'll go from there.  I take some, not ALL, the blame.  I think only children are sometimes expected to make the kid-person leap and I think I'm guilty sometimes.  I have no other children here to compare any actions of maturity or immaturity to so I just expect him to be older.  When he makes ridiculous childish choices, I'm shocked when really, I shouldn't be.  I legitimately thought he was over it after our last blow up of last week?!?!  


I am shocked at some of his "I can do whatever I want" choices and attitudes lately.  He did just turn 13 and I think I'd hoped he'd be spared some of the stupidness and idiot ideas of what's ok to do.  He sighs now, my husband sighs all the time, if they both sigh at me at the same time...I will move the hell out.


I will say I think I might be lucky he's doing it in the house, with traceable electronic devices as opposed to roaming the streets with hoodlums.  I may be having guilt about his occasional solitude of home school rather than blowing out steam with his buddies at school, he does it here, online, to stay in touch?  I don't know.  I'm not going to "blame" home school for every infraction.  I think I still have angst from my mother being here.  Even though she wasn't "watching", I think I felt watched, that's on me not her. 


I guess rather than going crazy, I'll merely tighten reigns yet again and watch and learn. In the scheme of things, there's worse but that doesn't give me any comfort.


I will say I think I am having an easier time than some of my friends with teenage boys.  I think, at the end of it, the ride will be a pretty easy one BUT right now, when I'm in it...I am not a happy camper.


I hated 12 and I think I'm going to hate 13.  I'm trying not to make a judgement on a whole year, it's only been 6 days but truly, I'm not a fan of the age already. The other age I hated was 7, they go from little kids to kids at 7 and I hated that attitude adjustment.  I guess I've had a few year of not hating an age but it feels like seriously disliking 12 has lasted way longer than a year and the prospect of another year of it just makes my head hurt.


For today, I'm torn between sitting beside him all day checking every key stroke and pencil stroke and laying on the couch with coffee, until it's wine time, leaving him to impress me with his hard, unsupervised, work. 


I wasn't having a great day yesterday, today surely isn't any nicer.  


/Tracy


To add to my general mope, the girls seem relatively happy in their coop although it's raining steadily (IN TEXAS?!?!) since they've been living out there so it's damp, muddy and stinky.  The porch and gazebos are mud pits, the clay weighs down your shoes trying to even go out there.  So, I'm moaning about inside AND outside, bonus.


I'm going to make cookies, and then I am going to eat them all.

Day Eighty Four

Our days are starting later and later.  I need to determine what time is ok and what time is just too late.  We've had a stagger out of bed at 11:30 and a bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6am.  Seriously, a little tiny bit of continuity wouldn't hurt at all.

I got the Banker up today at 9:45, fed him full of fresh from the oven biscuits (so my mum could try them too!) and now he's finally starting his day.  Math day.  Math u See, next chapter and T4L math review chapter 15 so we can be finished.  I don't think we'll renew our T4L for next year, it's a little young and since I bought Math (Algebra), English, Literature and Grammar books for next year I really don't see the need.  It was a good bridge to get us through the end of this year but it doesn't really fit into our schedule for next year, I don't think. 

We have been playing and playing and playing.  I am so lost in space and feel as though I've totally lost my footing where school is concerned.  I feel as though we've fallen behind but then trying to determine behind WHAT?  We are the gage, can we fall behind ourselves?  It messes with my head. 

We have a bunch of errands this afternoon we will drag Banker to with us, he can Minecraft with his friends tonight for a bit.  I don't want him on much when mum is here but he's sort of missing it I think.  I'll cut him a few hours of slack. I think.  I'll admit, I feel terribly unsure this week, of everything.  We should have just booked the week off school and been done with it but my committee just wouldn't let that happen.

The girls are gigantic!  I can't believe these chickens grow this much, this fast.  They are all lovely people birds, well, except Alouette who is sort of a bully.  Mean ole' screamy Martini has come around and leaps on me joyfully.  YES, they are joyful! I think they miss me when I'm not hanging in the gazebo with them.  They watch me when I leave and run excitedly to me when I return.  Sure, it's the food but I'll take it...  I love chicken love! 

The Banker is working hard and I hope doesn't run into too many problems today.  The new concept is one he's been exposed to so hopefully it's an easy work day for him.  I'm trying to get done what I want to get done today, fingers crossed. 

/Tracy

Day Seventy Seven

We managed to get it all done yesterday. Yay us.

The Banker got his work mostly done then we moved, together, into errands, laundry, a tiny tidy and a toilet clean.  We both worked, we both played, not a bad deal at all. I made a killer chicken divan for dinner.  Husband even came home a little early to eat with us, which resulted in Banker being told to be quiet too many times while we giggled while we ate then he got moaned at then husband collapsed in that stupid recliner (how can someone hate a piece of furniture? I do!) and fell dead asleep.  Banker was upset, he has an idea in his head of how every evening will be different and it never is.  I am torn between trying to try to help fix it or just move dinner way early again.  I get that you're tired and fed up when you come home from work, hell I did it for years and years, and not a nice office job with set hours.  I just never kicked my dog or blamed him for a crappy day when I came in.  I'll have to think about this one.


I asked Banker to spend some time with the girls outside, for fresh air.  They are getting so big!  He wanted to have some time online playing Minecraft with his friends.

I told him to work it out.  He did. Way to multi-task baby!

Computer on lap, chickens in the hand.  Sweet multitasking, dear. The chickens are sweet, they look hungover as they are part fluffy, part feathered with oversized feet.  They don't like to eat their feed from the ground and prefer to be hand fed.  I think I broke the chickens! :)  They all love to be held and cuddled, except Martini.  She is the largest and has taken over Punk duty from Chicken.  Chicken and Edna (Flossy) are the cuddlers of the group.  Alouette will sit with me for long periods of time and fall asleep on my arm.  I sing to her in French. Peck and Sunny are indifferent to me but love Banker and FriendA.

Today is math day, and it was going to be "move all that Lego" day but really, we LIVE here.  I want him to move it when we have the 10 children (oh kill me now) over for lunch on Thursday so it doesn't get destroyed or mess up my house too badly up there, but certainly not because his grandmother is coming to visit.  I remember when I was a kid, it was a mad dash to clean, tidy and remove all evidence of anyone living in the house before my Nana arrived.  Now, she was a hell of a gal, she'd call it like she saw it and had no, seriously, NO, filter when it came to offering her opinion of ANYthing.  I watched my mother wither many times when Nana would describe the chaos, anarchy or filth (??? hardly!) of our home or anything inside it to all and anyone who would listen.  I'm not going there and my mom has too big of a filter (directly of course :)).

Is my house pristine?  Oh heck no.  There are piles of who knows what on every flat surface.  There's Lego, books, blankets and a million pillows everywhere here.  I keep finding socks on most floors but pushed to the edge and corners of course.  There's boy stuff, man stuff and me stuff everywhere.  We live here.

I have clean toilets, clean linens and clean bedding for mum as well as all the brandy, vodka and wine she can drink. Her carpet is vacuumed, her TV works and she has hangers and empty drawers.  There are new batteries in the remotes for her TV and overhead lamp/fan. Yeah, I'm good.  I'm going to cook big and thoroughly enjoy having her here.  I'm not going to fret over a spider web or some dust.  She does have enough of a filter and lives 1,684 miles away so if she hates anything, she'll wait patiently and complain about me/it when she goes back.  I won't hear about it so we're golden.  Also, cocktailing and eating sounds better than steam cleaning then worrying if it's good enough.  HEY, maybe SHE can vacuum tomorrow??  Oh yeah, I'm a lovely daughter.

Back to school.  It's math day but if he's not completely done by the time I need some assistance or by the time we need to go, he can finish it tomorrow. Oh and for those keeping score, no, he hasn't finished his book yet.  I told him we'll reevaluate how we pick the classics when he finishes this one, I'm sticking to my guns and need to find a better literature system.  I want him to read these books but I do not want it to be painful.  I'll think of something I'm sure.

On a side note, I got up at 4am, snoring spouse and back of my head fretting were the culprits.  I've been having dreams that disturb me a bit.  They sort of go against what I think I would do given the same circumstance.  Maybe letting my alter ego have at it in the wee hours takes the edge of the drudgery for me?  Who knows.  At least there's familiarity, the same dream for months now.  In any event, I have loads of coffee, loads to do and think the excitement of the Banker seeing his Nana 'live' for the first time in 4 years will keep me going nicely.

It's 6am, is it too early to start cooking?

/Tracy

Day Seventy Three

WHAT a difference a day makes.

Yesterday, the Banker slept late, ate heartily upon rising (I'd made buttermilk biscuits for him).  He worked at his tasks without whining, moaning, bitching or pre-teen angst.

He blew through his work, 100%, 100%, 100%.  English, all complete, 100%.  Math (one particular concept he's fought with) reviewed, re-watched, re-worked, he asked for extra practice sheets (!) ASKED for more work to practice!  Practice lessons, 100%.  Test retake, 100%.

Brilliant.

We discussed some process issues, book issues, moving some pending work to another day.  We talked about life, chickens, happiness, his future, my future, my mother.  We giggled, danced and he sang, sang, sang, while he worked.

Brilliant.

I took some mental health time today.  There's so much to do here at the house, it's a mess and I feel out of control with it.  It feels overwhelming for some reason.  I need some me time.  I took the girls (chickens) outside to the gazebo, set up a chair and sat in there with my glass of wine and just watched them peck and scratch.  They ran to me, climbed on me and little, ugly, Edna fell asleep on my arm.  I needed the time out.  I can't believe how I feel for these chickens.

Brilliant.

Husband went out to play with his friends, probably laughing, joking, relaxing.  All the things he doesn't, can't or won't do here.  So long as he's happy and having fun.

Brilliant.

I cooked and experimented, liked some and hated some.  I cooked the best pork fried rice ever, way to use up the two teensy scrawny little pork chops leftover from last night.  Hardly enough to feed one of us let alone a mountain for both plus loads of leftover for Bankers lunch tomorrow.

Brilliant.

The Banker is going to shadow FriendA today at a co-op. He wanted to get the feel for one and she invited him, excellent timing.  I am going to try to get some stuff done here, I am sort of paralyzed when he's here working, I feel I need to be available, across the table for him, during school.  I am sure it'll find it's level.  All in all, even after the blow out of the other day, I truly think he's happy with home school, excited to be able to check out the Co-op and I am going to try to get SOMEthing done here with time all by myself.

Brilliant.

I came downstairs at 6am and found the Banker dressed, milk in hand, at the computer working through Language Arts Extensions to finish up some work.  Really?  I might love this. He flipped over to a little Minecraft when he finished.

Now then.  THAT is a conversation.  ALL the teen boys seem to be fascinated with the build your own world game that is Minecraft.  The graphics are crappy, the movement slow to medium at best and they love love love it.  It looks like Lego on the screen, well, if Lego had no sharp edges, unfocused Lego.  There has been some discussion between mothers as to how long to allow them to play this obsessive game, in one sitting.  Now, there's no killing or gore, or very little and it's amateurish at best. They have to work with each other to gather, mine and harvest what they need to build this world so perhaps there's a little ethics in there? They call each other in Skype, use the conference call program and all chat while they all play. They all call into one server (old school!) and play and build in the world they've created and saved.

They have been playing way too many hours in a row lately and one of the moms suggested a time limit, I love that.  We've decided they have to be off by 9pm, sounds reasonable.  We decided they have 3 hours (maximum) in a sitting, that also works just fine.  But I'll be honest, I wonder whether they need and use this time more so for social engaging rather than for the actual computer game.  They talk the whole time about what they need to do/work/buy/sell/harvest/mine/build and are dedicated to it to a fault.

I don't think we're turning them into sociopath ax murderers by letting them sit staring at screens for hours.  In a ridiculous manner, they are learning typing skills, keyboarding, some minor programming, how to get along, how to bargain, barter and negotiate.  They are learning to plan, to plot, to design and to build.  I hate to admit it but none of the items on this list is a bad thing.  They aren't shooting each other to smithereens with blood splattering across a screen.  Thank goodness.

Under the "super mom" category, it gives me a break when he's online with the friends.  *nice*  I can exhale, be inside my own head and make my own plans for my own life.  I need changes around here and when he's occupied so deeply, I can think about what I need to happen, for me, it's time.  I do know how easy it is to sit and start playing an obsessive game, Lemmings comes to mind.  I could play that all day, 3 hours was a blink.  I do understand their not realizing the time when they're so engaged.

I guess I wonder whether it's really that big of a deal if the work is done, what's wrong with engaging with your friends playing a group game instead of sitting in front of a television watching what other people want to put in your head.  Would we time limit them if it was a board game?  A card game?  Lego, Megablox or Lincoln Logs? Would we be concerned if they were playing with army men? GiJoe? Marbles?   I wonder if the conversation, time and energy spent with each other building relationships usurps the fact it's over a glowing rectangle.  What if it was just on the phone?  This is how home school kids, public school kids, friends and neighbors, from an area over 90 miles wide spend time hanging out when all their work is done.

I'll be thinking about that today.

/Tracy

Day Sixty Five

Yesterday was a bit rough.  Banker was in a snit from the snit I was in the day before.  The work didn't flow as smoothly, he futzed and moaned, I futzed and moaned.  All in all, not the best.

Today is science day, yay.  It is also math chapter test, from the chapters he did Tuesday.  Should be easy, he worked the problems through, eventually *ahem*.  Thee is also a unit test for the first section which I may spring on him later today or tomorrow...  I'm such a delight.

He just reviewed his day schedule and has decided to do the tests first.  I let him do tests in the studio because there's no computers in there, he rarely fiddles with the sewing machines, embroidery machine or serger.  :)  So long as he does fine on the tests, he's going to love the rest of his science day.

He is working the environmental science textbook on the iPad and really enjoying it, it's a bit cerebral but he loves the facts and spouts them regularly.

For the rest of his science today, I am sending him off in a different direction. I found an AMAZING book/app/project/show/series for my iPad called Nova Elements. It's all about the elements (d'uh) and there's an interesting show about the elements, little projects and a VERY cool interactive section where you learn about each element, can watch a short video about them then you can try to build the different elements with protons, electrons and neutrons, based on number and weight then wait to see if they are stable...if they're not they explode.  sweet.  Every one I've done has exploded.  HAHAHA  It's TOTALLY cool.  It's with David Pogue.  I'm floored at the quality and the coolness factor, Banker is going to love it.

I think we need to shake it up every once in a while... it's science day so we stay in science but no one says we have to stay in the same science.

It's going to be great, I have science faith.

/me

**honors level pre-algebra plus tests, 2 chapters, 100% *proud mother moment*

Day Sixty Four

I have edited my post today, I crossed out that which is bull**** and italicized that which is relevant further down in the story.




The banker worked really hard yesterday.  **


I forgot to mention that we had one of those spontaneous evenings the other night.  FriendA came over to see the chicks then we drove over to their house so Banker could see her lizard on a leash then everyone decided to go to the movies so we hopped in cars and drove up to a lovely theatre no one ever goes to and saw the 7:45 show of Mirror, Mirror.  We were the only ones in the the theater which was super and Banker and I talked about how great it was we could just go.  When he was in public school, we never went out in the evening.  Too much driving, too much gas money, too few hours between finishing dinner, homework and bed to go and do anything fun.  Daytimes, straight after school (with at least a day lead time for travel plans) or weekends were fine.  We both agreed this being able to just go and do whatever we want, any evening we want to do it in, is one of the biggest perks of how we've altered our live and academics.  Life gets to happen without planning 2-3 days in advance and the time of day doesn't matter anymore.  I love not watching a clock (although I still do) it's lovely that it's not mandatory anymore.


For math day, he moved his laptop into the living room, I was making bread and banging around in the kitchen, and stuck to it for hours.  He watched and re-watched the video lessons he was doing.  He went slowly and was actually challenged for a while until he got it.  He moaned a bit that it was different from what he'd been taught, I told him that he can and should use the methods in the video because it'll set him up for all the years of subsequent videos from the same organization.  We did some work together (thank you teacher manual that shows the progress to the answer not just the answer {whew}).  I think he got it.


He also finally figured out he can use the video lessons as primers when he's actually doing his lesson review sheets.  It's not a test, kiddo, use whatever you need to use to get the information in a comfortable spot in your head.  He thought he had to watch the video then turn it off and sit and do the worksheets, I told him that's how we do the tests, these are lesson work sheets... use the videos!  work through problems with the video running, it'll help you wrap your head around it.  There is no human to answer your question so you want to review again how he worked a problem... go for it baby!  


He's such a serious, hardworking kid.  I'll be honest though, I was surprised at the length of time it took him to work through some of the lesson practices.  I thought he should take mind wander breaks but he said no.   It's my biggest fear, that he loses his initiative and drive.  I don't really have any indications that's happening or will happen.  He's been driven and a self starter, academically, since long before he even went to school.  It's just one of the many things that nag at me in the wee hours.  That and the fact the whole chicken, reuse, recycle, environmental friendly, let Banker build a reclaimed coop with his own hands, his own hammer and nails...{he's been so excited about being able to build something}... but no, it's going high tech, high pvc (what's wrong with a chicken pecking on rope? or sitting on a stick?) and it's just been hijacked away from him.  That and the fact I am apparently the most stupid person on earth, chicken-ly speaking.  I've been researching this for 6 months but I digress. 


I like that he's entering the land of new information and is having to think hard.  He said a few times that he was sorry ?!?!?!?! for taking so long.  I told him that's WHY we do this...so he can take as long as he wants or needs.  He still can't quite wrap his head around the fact he can be as fast or as slow as he wants to be, as he needs to be. 


I like that he has to think with this math, that he has to work and that he takes his time.  He's learning, he's loving it, he's working hard, he's free to take breaks when he needs them, we talk about what he's learning, how it's going and he gets to play with chicks when he takes breaks.


I might throw a surprise field trip on him later, I wouldn't mind hitting some of the natural gardener places in town and may hit the road with him.  Depends on how he does today with social studies, it's his easy day because we tossed a workbook to the curb, so we'll see. 


**Well well well...    my mother radar went off, didn't it?  I'd written this post and then had a nagging feeling.  My committee wasn't content, wasn't happy with the words before me as I read them back. You know when you just know something isn't quite right and your entire committee tells you that you simply have to look into it more deeply?  I checked the history on Banker's computer.  Good grief, child, are you kidding me?  *sigh*  {yes, he was present...and duly horrified}


Children don't see the big picture, like the one where the mother sits at the computer and becomes increasingly furious at the number of ventures to various 'net sites while math was happening.  Or rather, supposed to be happening.  


Before I went "off", I did a quick mental review.  Did he do his work?  sure.  Did he finish what he set out to do? almost.  Did I tell him a number of times during the day to take a break? yep.  Did he? secretly apparently.  THAT is what has done me in.  I feel lied to.  I feel disappointed.  I feel taken advantage of.  I feel "had".  I feel as though I dropped the ball by not supervising to the degree I obviously should have been.  I am not a happy camper.  NOT happy...and it's really bad to be the Banker.


New rules that instantly were put into place:
Laptops stay in the kitchen, facing the wall so I can see the screen at all times.  
ALL work will be completed downstairs, where I can observe. 
ALL work will be completed on assigned day.
ALL work will be reviewed upon completion (not put into check work for later review)
NO headphones.  
NO surfing of any kind.  
NO "off site" research without prior authorization from me.  
NO phone.  
NO Xbox360.  


We are not going down that road.  OH and there won't be any surprise field trips or kudos on hard work or dedication today.  Get it done, get it done right and sit the hell up straight.


It's military here today. 


/harumph

Day Sixty Three

Ah, this is a nice quiet week.  I like it.  We have huge field trips next week plus a number of other activities and then my mother comes for a 2 week visit to celebrate Banker turning 13 that I'm really thinking this is going to be the last full week of work for a bit.  The nice thing is we can do this, I just don't want us to get too far off track.  oh wait, it's OUR track, so we're just fine! 


I had a long conversion on Sunday with a former 7/8 grade science teacher who now writes science curriculums (bonus!) and she had a long talk with Banker and I about working with us on some project based science work next year.  OH can I hear a hallelujah?  YAY!  I JUMPED at the opportunity and Banker was delighted too, we are going to meet up with her in the not too distant future to get more details.  YAY!!  Science is the only subject I am concerned about next year so this was indeed a blessing. Did I say YAY?


English yesterday and math today.  We are going to try for 2 chapters in the pre-algebra math u see program and see how it goes. He did 3 in one week and the one chapter last week took him longer than usual so we'll go for two and be happy with one.  I have a review built into the schedule for Thursday so if he can't finish the chapters he can in 2 days I'm sure then he can test Thursday or Friday.  I like like like this new one subject line/day thing.  I like our 4 day futz-able schedule.  I like how we work.  I am so much happier in my skin about his life and future.


The only thing anyone talks about tho, is the girls.  The girls were very happy to see me this morning.  Peeping and jumping into my hand.  I quite like them :) 


The chicks are so much larger each day, it's quite remarkable.  We are having discussions about the coop for them.  I hope hope hope that husband lets Banker help.  The whole chicken thing was his idea and I hope his father doesn't exclude him from the plans and building.  This is such a great learning experience and could be great bonding and I just hope hope hope it is  joint project.  If Banker is left out or chastised constantly, it'll do damage.  He's really excited to be involved.  I'm not going to fret just yet.  

  

  



I want to do this right, and easy.  I feel sick when the plans become so elaborate and involved and we can't use nails, oh no, we need special extra long, extra thick, extra extra screws and we can't use a dowel or board for them to roost, no, we'll have to buy imported lumber, treated for birds with the hairs of virgins, no really, it's never simple and straight forward.  Geez, this is supposed to be fun! easy! recycled! where'd the thread of this get lost?Can't this be simple?  I hope we use recycled materials, maybe use the building we already have out back, make it by hand with wood we have here, paint it fun colors.  I want us to do it together, nail some stuff together, surround it with wire and they'll be fine.  I am so very worried it's going to be over thought, over worked and over stressed about that which should be an easy, fun, family project.  We don't need Fort Knox out there and I worry that's what we'll end up with.  Just a little house, we have fence wood, we have a garage full of wood, that'll work FINE, for the girls to lay eggs and be safe at night, that's all we need, that's all we want.  Now there's plans for pvc piping to go through so they don't chew rope and for perches? c'mon, let them chew some rope? they're chickens... they'll slip off pvc, gee, a little piece of wood is all they need to perch for the night :(.  I have cool, multi colored drawers I said might be great for nesting...  it was poo'd and there was a sighing, stomping episode.  I am so sad this can't be a fun  family eco friendly recycling project.  


I actually prayed about it working out sweet and simple.  How sad.


School went well yesterday, Banker worked hard then FriendA came over to play with her chicken (one is hers in exchange for chicken sitting services down the road).   School went well today so far, math day moves him into the studio for privacy and he's less distracted.  He secretly wants to move his laptop and system into the studio full time so he can have his own room, nice, um, no.  I do, however let him have it one day a week ;) 


I'm trying to quietly think about organizing my guestroom and game room for my mother's arrival in a couple of weeks, stress free tho because I refuse to let it stress me out.  I am looking forward to her visit and the Banker is very excited she's coming, all in all it's not a bad time.  


Well, except for the coop.   


/Tracy

Day Fifty Seven

I'm in a soft boot brace for my ankle and am on crutches.  The Banker is having way too much fun with the crutches. OH and I talked the husband into chickens.

We are heading out to do a walking tour of Lockhart and then to eat fantastic BBQ at a historic restaurant, or two.

Academic opportunity? Oh you bet!

We did have a fantastic math day yesterday.  Banker wasn't comfortable with a new concept so he reviewed and reviewed and spent a few hours researching and watching instructional videos until he got it and by Jove, he got it.  THIS is what this experience is supposed to be.  Fly through when you get it and meander through reviewing what you need to when you don't.  BRILLIANT!

He passed the 3 tests from the chapters the week before with flying colors, all good math with only one or two inverted positive/negative determinations but the calculations and the math was good.  I'm proud.

Today is social studies day and he will do some more reading later today.  Easy and fun considering how hard he worked yesterday and for so many hours.

We are off now... I'll update today's post when we return!

WHAT A GREAT day for a field trip.

We drove to Lockhart, to Kreuz's one of the best bbq joints in texas and talked about it's history while we snarfed brisket, ribs and sausages.
 
We walked around the City square, a true old school small town historic square.  Fabulous.  We stopped in a couple of stores, had a long chat and visit with the woman who owns an antique store downtown.  Then we drove around to check out some of the fabulous old houses.
 

Trying to leap up to peek over...  heheheheh
 

A beautiful day.  A relaxed day.  After how hard he worked yesterday, all the hours of reviewing his work, he needed a day to run around outside, eat some great barbecue and I got to spend some time just hanging out with The Banker and with friends.  All good. 

I think the things he learned today were worth the drive.  He giggled, he joked with friends, we talked about Texas historical towns then we went to Dairy Queen and ate sundaes in the middle of the day.  I am treasuring every day with this kid and this time and this education we've opted for.  I love how happy he is.

Back to the grind tomorrow.  He has school tomorrow and Friday even though it's Good Friday and the schools are out, it'll give him added incentive to get it done so he can play online or in person or on the phone or text his friends who are usually in school during the day, he'll probably be done long before they are up and moving around anyway. 

I'm going to put my wrecked foot up, crutches all day is tiring and I'm about done.  Husband is out this evening, again, so Banker and I can hang out and nibble on our leftovers for dinner.  A quiet, easy evening before we hit the books again in the am. 

/Tracy