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 4

WOW what a great weekend.  Friends came, we played, we worked.  I sewed on the weekend and today, husband worked around the garden!  He dug up the only plants I like at the house but whatever.  If he wants to kill off the pampas grass instead of fixing all the millions of broken things around here, truly, I could give a care less, it's better than laying on a recliner. I liked that he was active in his own life this weekend.  I need to keep that momentum going for him.

The Banker and I had a rough start today, stress and drama and annoyance and regular mother and teenage son stuff.  The day did turn around. Luckily.

I  ultimately got some sewing done and Banker came in and joined me in the studio and we chatted about stuff and life and fabric and it was good time.  We cleaned, tidied, then I cooked us a killer meal, then he swam, I watched and cheered.  Husband came home and was gentle in his distance, I needed the calm.

Math day today. Banker worked through a new chapter in pre-Algebra and didn't struggle.  Yay.  It was an "easy part" for him which I think he needed to get some confidence in himself back, academically.  He's just finished chapter 15 so he's half way through.  I don't know if we'll be done by the time I want to start 8th grade Algebra but he'll be close.  Excellent.

The Banker worked hard and straight.  I left him to it and went to do groceries, in a snit, and I returned to a tidied kitchen, laundry in, dishwasher running and him working hard.  Excellent plan, Banker.  I think he enjoys the challenge and brain work of continuing to work through the summer.  He didn't balk when I greeted him straight out of bed with, "MATH!".

We are having a party day here tomorrow.  A couple of my friends are coming by with their kids and the children will swim and giggle and play.  The mothers will drink wine and make bread I think.

I'm looking forward to a far less stress and angst and bad choices filled day tomorrow.

/Tracy

TUESDAY

Playday!  No work, no school, nothing but playday.  FriendS and FriendM and they're bringing FriendP too!  There will be too many children and they'll play and swim and hang with chickens.  WHO, by the way are getting ENORMOUS, the chickens not the children.  The girls (chickens) are getting that scraggy neck thing, cool.  I love those crazy birds.

I made bread to snack on and anticipate making more bread when they get here.  I have wine and snacks, a pool, dogs, a hamster, a wii, an xbox and 6 chickens, there shoudn't be a bored child (or mother!)

Banker was less hissy today and has been basically helpful getting organized for friends to come.  Luckily, these are low to no maintenance friends so I'm not fretting about doing a hospital clean :)  I love low to no maintenance friends.

I reviewed Banker's math from yesterday and he nailed it.  I will have him take the test Thursday which is our next nothing day, I try to save one per week.  Free days not test days!

I'm off to cocktail and play with friends...spectacular. Banker is going to be the rock star to a 9 yr old and 2 7 year olds... they think he's cool and he giggles easily with them...also spectacular.

/Tracy

Summer Schedule Week 2

I'm going to update this spot all week long rather than bore the heck out of everyone with non home school home school summertime adventures.  I'll go back to daytime when we go back to school life.

I will say that in review of the home school adventure, I did realize it took this long for the Banker to shake school off him. The rules and regulations and structure and rigidity are so deeply ingrained in these kids from the age of 4 (preschool) that it's no wonder it's taken 100+ days to undo it.  I don't think it's all the way undone and I'm sure we'll have more challenges next year regarding home vs public school process and procedure rather than information and knowledge.

I'll share more tidbits as they come to me, in the mean time;

The lion tamer door on the chicken coop is brilliant!   I made a quickie video for my mom showing it off...  I'll do a better video but this is the one so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yS_JL440vI 

The chickens are happy happy happy. They have all figured out how to use the door and how to get out and back in.  I love my chickens.

I love love love their run.  They have space and air and can run and leap and be happy happy chickens.

The pool is up and is being filled as I type this.

I love love love our summertime pool.  18 feet of joy filled with water that stays cool all summer long and it's in full shade so we don't need to slather ourselves up with bottles of sunscreen.  Just leap in and float.  I cannot wait for it to be filled.

I helped a friend today.  I cooked a big roast dinner because I had a hankering.  The Banker is over his sleepover.  He came home overtired and miserable yesterday, it wasn't worth it.  Today he had FriendA come by and they're giggling like lunatics upstairs.  I like this combination of children.  It warms my heart.

We have had a party weekend, FriendK and son here Saturday night then all of us out to dinner.  FriendL here Sunday and then down to friends for a play, to get Banker and I discovered one of my new favorite champagne cocktails.  Champagne and pomegranate liquor, sounds awful but it's delightful and refreshing!  We were out Sunday night for an Indian meal on the way home.  Sewing and laundry and housework and cooking today.  FriendL came by and we visited then went shopping for fabric together. It's been a whirlwind, fabulous.

I sewed.  I loved it.  I am working on "mug rugs", many are quilted but I think I prefer them just sewn together.  About 8x10 inches, they are larger than coasters, smaller than placemats and soak the dreaded water ring around everything.  I'll post a link to an album making as well as to my Etsy store which I may just reopen this week.

FriendL and FriendC are dropping by tomorrow in the morning.  I'll make biscuits and coffee and we'll chat and giggle.  The Banker can finish his math tomorrow because I'm still sort of annoyed with him about his bad choices and teenage attitude he threw my way Saturday night.

Husband worked hard on coop and mowing and pool this weekend.  It felt nice to have everyone working and playing.

I'm going to take FriendA home and come back, pop myself up in bed and stare at TV for a while, all alone.  It's going to be a long week and I need a few moments stolen away.

/Tracy

TUESDAY

Friends over for baked goods, there was no drama with the painters across the street.  EXCELLENT.  Banker is spending his time scrubbing the pool that is 3/4 full so we can loosen the dirt stuck to the bottom them vacuum it.  Ahhh, work in a pool isn't REALLY work at all.

We have no plans for the rest of the day except to lay about.  I like those sorts of plans.  I may do a pay per view movie for he and I and a couple big bowls of popcorn.

I'm going to shop and cook tomorrow for the Ladies who Lunche coming on Thursday.  I think a couple different salads, a thai peanut pasta and a grilled vegetable quinoa salad will be nice and light in anticipation of the cheesecake stuffed strawberries I'm going to tempt them with.

No schoolwork today, today we play.

SEWING LESSONS!  I love giving sewing lessons, on machines today.  I love the enthusiasm of the pre or teenagers.  I love the delight at creating something from a few scraps.  I love the discovery of getting the feel for the foot pedal.  I don't mind at all doing it for free when it's the Banker who wants the lessons and he wants his mother to be the one to teach him.  *joy*


/Tracy

THURSDAY

It's LADIES WHO LUNCH day!  I cooked and am waiting for the Ladies to arrive.  I made thai peanut noodle salad with shredded carrot, cabbage, sugar snaps and red peppers, roasted sliced chicken (I roasted it yesterday)  homemade ciabatta (I caved in last minute), micro greens with lemon vinaigrette, wine (loads of it) cheesecake stuffed strawberries and lemon curd and cream mini tarts.  I made roast tomato salsa this am and have cheese and nuts and pita for snackies.  I made hotdogs for the children with bags of chips and bowls of popcorn for them to be elsewhere while the Ladies catch up.

I love Ladies Who Lunch Day.  I miss those who can't come every time but love the time with the girls.

OOH, there's a doorbell!

/Tracy