Oh, no!
I'm not sure who did this but someone has been tampering with Jeff's blog
Confounding Factor!
It is one of the dangers of leaving a blog unattended for so long.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Where Have I been,You Wonder?
I've been here. I really have not been doing much this week but yet do not seem to be getting much blogging in. I haven't even been getting my sewing fix. I have been relaxing and enjoying the nice weather. I made a visit to the library this week with Elena,Grant,Alan,Joyce,Cyrus,Nolan,and Josh. This evening I spent some fun time playing Frisbee with Elena and wandering around goofing with my camera.
I am still plugging away with home school planning. I have not yet finished my group c kids yet. It is very hard to fit in school planning during free moments. It takes a lot of brain work. Sewing on the other hand can be done here and there. I have had my share of weak moments where I have been so overwhelmed with planning school that I just want to throw in the towel. I do not think I am making things more complicated that they could be. I am finding that planning for 12 (half of whom still struggle with reading and need one-on-one time) is much different than planning for for say half the number I did a few years back. Is there anyone else out there who has done what I am doing and made it through? I need a little encouragement...
What am I using to teach my many ducklings? Weaver with a lot of notebooking (of course, I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE both),my great Pearables home ec book, and Bob Jones for math for all. A few non-readers are going through Reading in 100 Easy lessons. A few other non-readers will be reusing some old Bob Jones K phonics books. I could have all the non-reader use the 100 Easy Lessons but I just could not sit and teach that 6 times a day! I would scream. Maybe someone out there (of my nine blog readers...I checked) has used that book to teach in a small classroom setting?
I'm really not complaining. I just get hung up on the organising and planning part of homeschooling. Finding the time to plan and organize is also very difficult. Oh, but this will be a fun year. It will be easier than the past few years. Those where very hard years with the home school area. Now, I have a much better idea of where our Liberian kids are at academically. It helps that I know their personalities so much better as well as what areas they each find easy or hard.
On to other things...
Once again our refrigerator, dryer, and stove are not behaving well. All year our freezer part of the fridge would over freeze and not defrost and our fridge would usually not get below 50. It was fixed for a little while last year but went goofy again. Our dryer does not dry in hot weather, and the two burners we have left on our stove only work when they want to work. Picky,picky... I will not carry on over our continuously clogged and overflowing toilets, or temperamental kitchen lights, or MANY broken windows,or ripped screens,or broken doors...but I could...it is all a part of the fun of raising a large family.
No, I will stick to my three pesky appliances.
Thank goodness for Centerpoint Energy service plan. The Centerpoint Energy guy was out here all afternoon working hard to get our appliances back in working order. He did not quite accomplish that but he ordered parts for our three misbehavers and will be back to see what he can do next week. I'm not too worried. We have lived this long with the issues and to actually have something working the right way seems like frivolous excess.
Here are a few of the random pictures I took this evening
My dear friend over at The Zoo took some very pretty summer pictures of the flowers growing in her yard. I thought it would be fun to show what's growing around our yard! What do you think Barb? Breathtaking? I know, the milkweed leaves everyone speechless. It is about the only thing growing in my square foot garden this year.
I am still plugging away with home school planning. I have not yet finished my group c kids yet. It is very hard to fit in school planning during free moments. It takes a lot of brain work. Sewing on the other hand can be done here and there. I have had my share of weak moments where I have been so overwhelmed with planning school that I just want to throw in the towel. I do not think I am making things more complicated that they could be. I am finding that planning for 12 (half of whom still struggle with reading and need one-on-one time) is much different than planning for for say half the number I did a few years back. Is there anyone else out there who has done what I am doing and made it through? I need a little encouragement...
What am I using to teach my many ducklings? Weaver with a lot of notebooking (of course, I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE both),my great Pearables home ec book, and Bob Jones for math for all. A few non-readers are going through Reading in 100 Easy lessons. A few other non-readers will be reusing some old Bob Jones K phonics books. I could have all the non-reader use the 100 Easy Lessons but I just could not sit and teach that 6 times a day! I would scream. Maybe someone out there (of my nine blog readers...I checked) has used that book to teach in a small classroom setting?
I'm really not complaining. I just get hung up on the organising and planning part of homeschooling. Finding the time to plan and organize is also very difficult. Oh, but this will be a fun year. It will be easier than the past few years. Those where very hard years with the home school area. Now, I have a much better idea of where our Liberian kids are at academically. It helps that I know their personalities so much better as well as what areas they each find easy or hard.
On to other things...
Once again our refrigerator, dryer, and stove are not behaving well. All year our freezer part of the fridge would over freeze and not defrost and our fridge would usually not get below 50. It was fixed for a little while last year but went goofy again. Our dryer does not dry in hot weather, and the two burners we have left on our stove only work when they want to work. Picky,picky... I will not carry on over our continuously clogged and overflowing toilets, or temperamental kitchen lights, or MANY broken windows,or ripped screens,or broken doors...but I could...it is all a part of the fun of raising a large family.
No, I will stick to my three pesky appliances.
Thank goodness for Centerpoint Energy service plan. The Centerpoint Energy guy was out here all afternoon working hard to get our appliances back in working order. He did not quite accomplish that but he ordered parts for our three misbehavers and will be back to see what he can do next week. I'm not too worried. We have lived this long with the issues and to actually have something working the right way seems like frivolous excess.
Here are a few of the random pictures I took this evening
My dear friend over at The Zoo took some very pretty summer pictures of the flowers growing in her yard. I thought it would be fun to show what's growing around our yard! What do you think Barb? Breathtaking? I know, the milkweed leaves everyone speechless. It is about the only thing growing in my square foot garden this year.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Getting Ready For The Fair
The Waseca County Fair starts next week. Hurray! I love fair week. The fire engines were at the fair grounds today using their fire hoses to help get the building sparkling clean.
Joel and I walked down to take a look. There is something about fire trucks and four year old boys.Joel was pretty pleased to watch.
Joel and I walked down to take a look. There is something about fire trucks and four year old boys.Joel was pretty pleased to watch.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A Fun Evening For The Kids
Christ Community Church rented out the local water park for this evening. Jeff and eleven of the kids were off enjoying the water fun. I'm not a big water park fan so opted to stay home with Joel, Grace, and Lily. Good thing Elena brought the camera so I could see all the fun!
There are a few picture of Joyce looking pretty lonely, but what a beautiful lonely looking girl she is!
Odell
Joyce
Odell, Ekie, Naomi. and Anya
The boys playing water basketball
Lonely Joyce again
There are a few picture of Joyce looking pretty lonely, but what a beautiful lonely looking girl she is!
Odell
Joyce
Odell, Ekie, Naomi. and Anya
The boys playing water basketball
Lonely Joyce again
A Rebel With A Cause
What do you think? Should I let him keep the new 'do?
Actually, this is just a teaser for the boys newest basketball spinning movie they are making.
There was something said about the need for a mohawk and spinning balls on the garage roof... This is what happens when Jeff is behind the camera.
Where are Paul,Kurt,and Jeff Sheldon to tone the movie making business down a few notches?
Actually, this is just a teaser for the boys newest basketball spinning movie they are making.
There was something said about the need for a mohawk and spinning balls on the garage roof... This is what happens when Jeff is behind the camera.
Where are Paul,Kurt,and Jeff Sheldon to tone the movie making business down a few notches?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy 4th!
Good eats and a GREAT group!!!!
Here we are on the beach of Clear Lake waiting for the fire works to start.
Here we are on the beach of Clear Lake waiting for the fire works to start.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Pop Goes My Brain..
Jeff had the day off today and took the kids to the park all day so I could get a little school planning done. Grace will be joining the kids this year so I somehow need to get school for 12 children planned and organized. My head is about to pop...no explode...The stuff you see on the table is just part of what needs to be tackled. Just for reference our table seats all 16 of us (a little snugly) so I'm talking a lot of stuff and what you see does not include 7th grade and up!There is also a 5 foot table in the living room full with stacks of worksheets,the copier, and stuff.
Right now I am tackling the first 12 weeks of group C which is Ekie,Naomi,Odell,Grace,Anya,and tag along Joel. Half way finished. I've been through three black ink cartridges and one ink refill.Hundreds of staples and sheets of paper.This planning stuff is very difficult for me.
We had a water flood in our basement a while back and my favorite Home EC book is all gross and mildewed. I was so exited to use it this year with Group C. I really could not buy a replacement book so I copied the real icky pages, took the book apart and put the pages in protective sleeves. Now it is like a new book! Well...kind of...OK, no it isn't but at least it does not smell musty anymore and the protective sleeves keep me from touching the actual pages. Home Ec here we come!!!
Right now I am tackling the first 12 weeks of group C which is Ekie,Naomi,Odell,Grace,Anya,and tag along Joel. Half way finished. I've been through three black ink cartridges and one ink refill.Hundreds of staples and sheets of paper.This planning stuff is very difficult for me.
We had a water flood in our basement a while back and my favorite Home EC book is all gross and mildewed. I was so exited to use it this year with Group C. I really could not buy a replacement book so I copied the real icky pages, took the book apart and put the pages in protective sleeves. Now it is like a new book! Well...kind of...OK, no it isn't but at least it does not smell musty anymore and the protective sleeves keep me from touching the actual pages. Home Ec here we come!!!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Resemblance?
Isn't this the cutest!Do you see the resemblance? She sure is a daddy's girl!
A note to grandma...this very sweet picture of Jeff and two of Wanda (looking beautiful) were tucked in the pages of Grant's art book. Jeff will make sure they get back to you.
Grant is home!!!! Now life around here can go on like is should! He did have a VERY VERY fun time but I am glad he is home.
A note to grandma...this very sweet picture of Jeff and two of Wanda (looking beautiful) were tucked in the pages of Grant's art book. Jeff will make sure they get back to you.
Grant is home!!!! Now life around here can go on like is should! He did have a VERY VERY fun time but I am glad he is home.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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