Day EIGHTY SIX

The Banker turns 13 today.  Wow.  I simply can't believe it ...  

Wasn't it just yesterday I brought him home from the hospital?  Didn't he just sit up? stand up? take his first tentative steps?  Didn't he just say mama? fall asleep in my arms, run to me in a storm or snuggle under my arm when he didn't feel well?  


Didn't we just spend time sitting on the kitchen floor while I tried to teach him to suck through a straw, collapsing in giggles.  Wasn't it yesterday we read Mama Loves You, Hop on Pop or Velveteen Rabbit while I cried? Didn't I just stroke his hair while he slept the first night in his big boy bed.  


Hasn't it only been moments since his first tantrum? his first decision, first opinion and dire worried concern about the world.  Where has the time gone and who is the lovely young man emerging before me? 


Hasn't it only been an evening since a stroppy stomp upstairs, hands on hips convinced I'm stupid with the dramatic and eye roll?  Oh wait, yes it has ;)  Nevermind.


Happy Birthday to my brand new teenager, Happy Birthday Banker, oh how I love you so.  We bought him an iPad.  He went mad!  


Oh and school's out for a few days, let's play.


/Tracy

Day Eighty Five

It's the last day The Banker will be 12 years old.  I feel the teenage surge.

We have an easy day planned, he's going to review one math chapter, take 2 chapter tests and we are going to find things to look at under his uber cool massively amazing microscope.  He loves the thing.  We bought slides and eye droppers yesterday so our days of looking at things between stretched saran wrap are gone.  Don't even say anything :)  You make do!  The yeast from the bread looked amazing under the saran, it was a living, moving thing, very very very cool.

In spite of failing miserably this week, in school as a home institution not as in school the grades, Banker did look up and make a list of what he thought would be the coolest things to look at under the microscope today so that's our plan.

We are running some errands when we are done and then he's done school for the week, we're playing, plus tomorrow is his birthday and no one should have to do school on his birthday.  I think I'm going to wait to give him the gift from his dad and I until husband comes back from out of town, he flies in late tomorrow night so maybe Friday morning... we'll see.  I want us both to be here.

Anyway, after our errands today we are meeting FriendC and her brood for dinner.  A Mexican restaurant I've not been to and have wanted to try, Guadalajara, I've heard rumors it's yummy.  I'm always excited for yummy.  Any time spent with friends makes the food better, I think.

Ms. Zan told me I'm fretting about school because I have an audience and she's right.  I should have just let him blow the week but I'm genetically incapable of blowing half way through so we're just sticking to the schedule.  I think mum will enjoy some of the microscope research today and Banker will enjoy finding things so it'll be a win win academically.

Chicken, a bird in my hand?

The girls (chickens) are 5 weeks today and are massive and I think they actually know who I am.  Is that weird?  Can chickens identify people? I will say, they rush toward me more than the others and even though it sounds a little nuts I think they look for me, from the gazebo.  If I said I think they called me we'll all know I'm quite mad but really, I think they love me...needless, I just love these silly birds.  Banker loves them too but hasn't had loads of chicken time this week, we'll need to rectify that today I think.

Martini

Martini 

Chicken bums in a row!

I'm off to enjoy a quiet coffee...and i think I hear the girls calling me.

/Tracy

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 Eighty Three

Firstly, the coop isn't finished, it's close but it's not done enough I can put the girls in it.  Another week of them in the gazebo all day is fine, it's being squished together in that box at night that seems a bit tight.  I know they won't perish, I just wish they had more room.  


On the school, life, house, front.  Husband has left for a business trip for the week.  Life will be calmer. 


But, wow, as much fun as freedom is, it sure is a lot of work!  At least if Banker was in public school someone would be telling me what to do and keeping me on track.  I'm having a "am I allowed to make these decisions" moment.  Stupid, sure, but it still has affected my committee pretty seriously. 


We have my mother here and we're having loads of fun, I'm trying to balance school and freedom and schedules and no schedules and feel like I'm failing on all points.  Although, I also can't quite figure out why we can't just take the week off.  


Do we just not do the 'easy' stuff?  Do I have him do math and science and that's all?  Do we just do the quick and easy work? Save the hard for next week?  Is part time worse than half time?  I wonder if we should even bother to do, attempt to do, pretend to do, school at all this week?  All this is running through my head.


I'm feeling great angst about it to be honest.  


I am supposed to be sitting here working on the Banker's schedule for the week.  I look at the work he's supposed to be doing and then look at the fun we have planned.  I don't know what I want to do and not do.    Mum and I have two lunches planned this week, without Banker.  We have two evenings and 3 days planned with the Banker.  Does he work between fun? Does he work at all?


I'm stressing about whether to just take the week off or not.  I'll be honest, I feel as though I'm screwing up royally this week.  I'm going to go think about it, fret about it and wonder if I'm breaking him (sure, I still think that!)


Aarrgghh


Ok, I've made a decision.  Sort of.  English today, Math tomorrow, review both Wednesday.  Off on Thursday (his 13th! *gasp*) birthday and Off on Friday, we're San Antonio bound.  There.


/Tracy

Day Eighty One and Eighty Two (weekend)

There's family happening, the coop is being built.  Yes, I am totally dismissed from any involvement in the coop.  I was yelled at for asking a question. The Banker tried desperately to be involved and help and was also dismissed, my mother wanted to hammer a nail and was also, dismissed. 

Errands, shopping, playing is the name of this weekend's game.

Day Eighty

Home School Science just got way cooler!

The Banker got a microscope yesterday from FriendC, Ms. Zan and CD, he's a lucky kid.  He was polite, smiled sweetly, said thanks and wandered off.  This morning, he came dashing downstairs with it, we hooked up plants and a yeast smear from the bread I was making, it MOVES!  Oh we had fun!  We need to get slides and see if there's some way to hook it to the net or tv or computer, although I don't see how to do it yet.  He's excited and asked to swap today to Science day.  Sure, kiddo, have at it :)

We had a fun time yesterday with the Ladies Who Lunch, as always.  I cooked, mum cooked.  We laughed and all had a lovely time, you wouldn't have known there were so many children in the house, all perfectly behaved.  I knew they would be.

We've been cooking and playing a bit today.  I made bread and ciabatta to take to friends this afternoon.  I played with the pancake puff maker and we all snacked.  I think it makes school cooler when you're handed little plates of tidbits to sample while you work.  The Banker is going to check out the microscope some more and then he's going to watch some of the Khan Astronomy videos, he loves those.  We'll call it a day after that. I love the freedom we have during this visit!

The girls are getting crazy big, I'm going to have to remark their heads they're growing out of their markings so fast.

4 wks 2 days
 

 
We are leaving shortly to head to a couple of stores mum wants to hit then to happy hour then to happy hour somewhere else.  We worked hard so we are going to play hard!

Happy Friday!

/Tracy

Day Seventy Nine

It's play day.  Not a field trip, better, friends and family coming here to play!  There will be eating, drinking, chicken watching, child playing, Minecraft and lots of giggling.  Some say we're blowing the day off school today... I say never!


Lessons today? 


International food, a study in Canadian and British specialties;  
101; Canadian Bacon isn't rolled ham!  We'll be experimenting with Peameal and it's delicious, loiny, brined, mealed, history.  
102; Pancakes aren't thick and doughy and stodgy!  We'll be sampling British thin pancakes with lemon and sugar.  Oh and Tate and Lyles those in the loop!!


Cocktails, how to make 'em, how to serve 'em.


Wine, White v Red, health benefits, taste benefits, Italy v Chile. Economic effect on both countries by my Ladies Who Lunch soiree's.


Chickens 101, backyard chickens, raising baby chicks, brooder boxes, outside play for chicks, chick development. How to keep chickens IN and dogs and children OUT of the gazebo!


Socialization; how 10 children can survive 1 game-room.  


Physics;  how 1 game-room can survive 10 children!


Meteorology;  Austin weather and how it has been affected by whatever joyful patterns to ensure we get the best local weather has to offer!  Could we have planned for nicer weather for a cocktail lunch?


English; how 10 children trying not to get in the way of 10 ladies mirrors the story line of Lord of The Flies or worse...Children of the Corn?! :)


Computer Science;  how to plot and plan to secretly extend your Minecraft time with friends.


PE; The General Store is a bit of a hike, exercise will happen when we toss them all out of the house to go get treats! 


This, is the stuff of memories, not sitting in some classroom having your joy and brains ooze out your ear.  A houseful of good friends, good food and family is the only way to go.


Sounds wonderfully busy to me! 


/Tracy