Another two weeks down...

When it rains it pours....this past week the computer crashed and the dishwasher--already on it's last leg--died. September is a big birthday month for us so, we've had many birthday parties to put on and friend's parties to attend to-- fun, but chaotically busy.

These kids, unbeknown st to me (Brianne, Connor and Liam) developed strep....yeah! I took Bri to her 18 month well baby checkup and the rash I've been battling apparently was strep. Who knew--not me, that's for sure! The head aches and sore throat that Connor complained of I chalked up to allergies--'tis the season--were strep. Liam's complaints of his stomach hurting and head hurting, well I just thought, "brace for a stomach virus, it's coming." As a few days past and he didn't get sick, I thought "yeah, we've missed this one...." When Brianne's test came back positive and I heard the doctor rattle off the symptoms (these ones I knew of, just forgot) it dawned on me that Connor and Liam had strep too. Lucky the other's didn't have it, so just three scripts of penicillin and we'll be good in no time.

After having to wash the same load of laundry for the 5th or 6th time, because either I had forgotten to move it to the dryer or the person I asked to move it didn't do it either, I lost it!! Sometimes melt downs are good. This one made me stop, collect myself and try to find better ways to get things done and to realize that I can't get it all done--that goal is impossible, I just have too much to do. A friend told me that she goes to the Lord in prayer every morning and asks for guidance as to what was the most important thing for her to get done that day. I wasn't really doing this...sort of, but, not really. I was just saying the routine 'lets start the day prayer'. I wasn't taking advantage of his great wisdom to help me know what really is most important and what should go, or at least wait for another day.

This was certainly poignant for me in regards to Connor. He's been complaining for a while about some of the school work that he needs to accomplish for his CC class. He's told me that the work isn't hard, but that there is so much of it! His greatest challenge is that of organizing himself and his time. I knew that this work load would be a huge test and challenge for him. I was right. He's been melting down too. So much so, that things he's enjoyed in the past, such as his Latin lessons, he's beginning to hate now. His greatest disdain for school work is geography, so, as his teacher, (and through much prayer and confirmation from the Lord) I'm letting him drop that for now. He's also complaining greatly of Saxon math, he wants to use the 'Life of Fred' math series instead. Because of my lack of mathematics knowledge, I've relied heavily on "the- best-curriculum-to-teach-math-available', because it's known to be a complete and solid math instruction. Interestingly enough, the answer to this situation came from a conversation with another home school mom. Her daughter is in Delaney's CC class and she is a home school graduate herself. She had to endure Saxon math as a youth and swore she would never make her child have to use it. (Her mom's reason's for using it were the same as mine) She also gave me concrete reasons as to why it wasn't everything it claims to be. She said "Why not let him just attend the lecture in class and do daily lesson work with the book he wants to use." Sooo, that's what we've decided to do. Of course, I want to see written work--he still wants to do everything in his head, but we are listening to each other and school is going much better now--for him and me.

Another direction the Lord is guiding my towards is to learn more about TJEd--the Thomas Jefferson Education model, also known as leadership education model. I've learned much about it and implement many concepts but I think he's telling me to learn more and implement more. So I'm back in the student's seat and learning along with my little one. One day, when I feel I'm able to slow down enough and actually learn math with my kids (probably with Liam), I'll be happy that I listened to the Lord, had faith in him and Connor and let him learn in a way that suits his needs and not mine entirely. (Interestingly, my friend's mom still has three kids at home and she is buckling down and learning math now too--she's finding how dry and overly repetitive Saxon can be.)

Ryan's doing well with his New River class....not perfect, but considering he's not had this demanding of a class before, he's getting his bearings about him and learning what it takes to complete a college math class. (If only he'd learn that getting a tutor doesn't make him a failure--goodness he's stubborn)

I've also changed the way we are approaching his writing. After talking with a friend I've realized that he speaks clearly and well, but when he puts his thoughts down on paper-- chaos reigns-- and we just don't understand what he's trying to say. He goes in circle after circle saying the same things over and over and over and over.... So, I'm having him write in a journal everyday, sometimes twice a day and we are having success. I have him summarize favorite dragon stories of his and his history lesson.

Ryan has labs for his chemistry lessons to complete. Although he doesn't enjoy them, Connor sure does. I'm sure having his younger brother around makes the task more palatable for him....well maybe.

Two weeks ago, the boys and I, along with Cailin headed north to help my brother and his family move from Maryland to Virginia. Now they are only 2 hours away!! Yeah!

That was a Friday, the day after, they headed north again to attend a youth temple trip at the DC Temple. Connor learned that he can't be that busy and still get all his school work done, but he had a great time none the less. He now has an arsenal of fun jokes from his friend Alan to share with us. Oh joy!

Delaney, Liam and I have been reading about water fowl (see the post on The Trumpet of the Swan) and the Pledge of Allegiance.

For Delaney, reading is starting to 'click'. she read her first book 'Go Dog Go' by Dr. Seuss entirely on her own to me one day. I was shouting for joy inside as she read. She's starting to pick up more picture books and read them too. I kept telling myself that she'd get it as I would get frustrated because she wouldn't remember from day to day what we had already learned. I was right...she is getting it and I'm so proud! She is too.

She's also remembering much of her memory work for CC. I'm surprised as she rattles off the Latin words for various things and English definitions for present participle and past participle and other parts of speech. She's even remembering her skip counting this year. Of course, her favorite memory work is always the history sentences because they are put to music. Last night we went over some sentences from last year. She remembers it quite well.
Cailin's had it with math!!! Life of Fred isn't going to well for us--even for me. (Connor loves it!!! He's reading and solving these books on his own, so far he's complete 3 of them.) We are looking into a few other math programs. I'm hoping that Khan Academy will work, because it's free, but if it doesn't then we'll shell out the money and use Teaching Textbooks.

Writing, of course, is going well. She's still enjoying her science. The other day, while the missionaries were over for dinner an elder mentioned that an investigator's tibula was chipped, and that is what was keeping him from coming to church. She excitedly exclaimed, "Hey, I know what that is! It's a bone in your leg." She's looking forward to starting the lesson on BLOOD!
She's also mention that she's fascinated by the digestive system and nutrition, but that will have to come later, right now she wants to learn about blood!

Enjoying a yummy chocolate donut at Cailin's birthday party.

And what about sweet Brianne...now that she's on antibiotics I'm sure she's feeling much better. I never really could tell she was sick, she's generally a happy child. However, she is starting to get frustrated as she tries to convey to us her wants and wishes. We're trying hard to teach and get her to use sign language. She's been quite reticent to doing this, why, I don't know. But if she could grasp this concept--that signing will help her get things she wants--we'll all be a bit more happy.