Should you desire to attend a show, the theater now has tickets available for purchase. The shows are the first weekend of August.
Jesse's group, Pick-A-Little-Lady, was told they are "kind of" main characters. I believe they are going to be on stage more than she was in "Peter Pan".
Chloe still has not made one of her rehearsals. We listed Tuesdays and Thursdays in June as her unavailable days, but those were the days her group was scheduled. She will attend her first (non-whole cast) on Wednesday.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sometimes I just have to keep reminding myself
John went to his Mom's yesterday to help his siblings work on her windows. When he called to let me know he got there he also told me our old house is for sale.
{sigh}
John and I bought some land with a mobile home knowing we wanted to build a house on the property. We searched through many books and magazines with home plans. I kept going back to one house. I loved it, except for the kitchen. It had a galley kitchen which I knew from experience I do not like. He redesigned the kitchen and I loved it. We had a house plan!
We had the house built then started our family. It was a wonderful home and I loved it. Six months after John returned from Iraq, he told me he was applying for a job in Columbia. I knew if he got the job we would have to move. There was no way I was going to let John drive a three-hour round trip everyday. We waited...he got the job.
Of course, the news became he had to go to school for six-weeks then right then the very next day was his first day in Columbia. There was little time for him to help me get a house ready to sell. So, with two children, age three and one, I began to pack up a lot of our belongings myself, move them to a storage building, preparing our home to be listed. We had watched too many sell your house shows and knew we had to move much of our "stuff" off property.
January came. John's new job was going well, but he was tired already from the driving (three weeks in). Our house was ready to go on the market. We held our breath not knowing what would happen. Within a week, we had an offer. By the end of the second week, we finalized the contract.
I cried as we pulled out of the driveway for the last time. I wasn't sure what life was going to be in Columbia. I didn't know if we would have all the wonderful things we had in Edgefield. Jesse was in a fantastic preschool program meeting kids who would be her classmates. We would get McDonald's on Sunday mornings and take it to the town park to eat then play. We had a huge yard full of possibilities as the girls grew.
In Columbia, we never knew where we were going or how to get there. We had no friends. An extremely tiny yard and a much smaller house. The only people we knew (John knew) were his co-workers.
Last night I sat here thinking of our home in Edgefield. Wishing, in many ways, we had never left it. It is really the first place John and I think of as our own. I loved it there. It is where we started our family. Six years later I still call it "my house". John said last night it would not be so hard if it were not right across the street from his Mom's. He is right. We see how the Bradford pear trees grew just like we wanted them to, to shade the front porch. We see the changes they have made to the outside and I've wondered what became of the inside.
Now, I know. Last night I took a virtual tour of my home. It is no longer mine. I held back the tears for awhile, but Chloe found me crying later. She told John. He is a man. (I say that lovingly.) I am grieving a bit for my home that is no longer mine. Clearly. But in my mind, I see it the way it was. I can walk from room to room and still remember where everything was. John could not even remember where the TV was.
So, we started talking about. The "ifs" in life. "If" we had stayed the girls would be in public school. It was Courtney, who I met at taekwondo, who gave me the piece that convinced John to try it. The girls would not be taking taekwondo (there is no place like that in Edgefield). There would be no Nature classes or Children's Theatre. And John would be packing again to go back to Iraq. Our lives would be nothing as they are now. So, as much as I loved that house when it was our home, I love our lives more.
Goodbye my house.
{sigh}
John and I bought some land with a mobile home knowing we wanted to build a house on the property. We searched through many books and magazines with home plans. I kept going back to one house. I loved it, except for the kitchen. It had a galley kitchen which I knew from experience I do not like. He redesigned the kitchen and I loved it. We had a house plan!
We had the house built then started our family. It was a wonderful home and I loved it. Six months after John returned from Iraq, he told me he was applying for a job in Columbia. I knew if he got the job we would have to move. There was no way I was going to let John drive a three-hour round trip everyday. We waited...he got the job.
Of course, the news became he had to go to school for six-weeks then right then the very next day was his first day in Columbia. There was little time for him to help me get a house ready to sell. So, with two children, age three and one, I began to pack up a lot of our belongings myself, move them to a storage building, preparing our home to be listed. We had watched too many sell your house shows and knew we had to move much of our "stuff" off property.
January came. John's new job was going well, but he was tired already from the driving (three weeks in). Our house was ready to go on the market. We held our breath not knowing what would happen. Within a week, we had an offer. By the end of the second week, we finalized the contract.
I cried as we pulled out of the driveway for the last time. I wasn't sure what life was going to be in Columbia. I didn't know if we would have all the wonderful things we had in Edgefield. Jesse was in a fantastic preschool program meeting kids who would be her classmates. We would get McDonald's on Sunday mornings and take it to the town park to eat then play. We had a huge yard full of possibilities as the girls grew.
In Columbia, we never knew where we were going or how to get there. We had no friends. An extremely tiny yard and a much smaller house. The only people we knew (John knew) were his co-workers.
Last night I sat here thinking of our home in Edgefield. Wishing, in many ways, we had never left it. It is really the first place John and I think of as our own. I loved it there. It is where we started our family. Six years later I still call it "my house". John said last night it would not be so hard if it were not right across the street from his Mom's. He is right. We see how the Bradford pear trees grew just like we wanted them to, to shade the front porch. We see the changes they have made to the outside and I've wondered what became of the inside.
Now, I know. Last night I took a virtual tour of my home. It is no longer mine. I held back the tears for awhile, but Chloe found me crying later. She told John. He is a man. (I say that lovingly.) I am grieving a bit for my home that is no longer mine. Clearly. But in my mind, I see it the way it was. I can walk from room to room and still remember where everything was. John could not even remember where the TV was.
So, we started talking about. The "ifs" in life. "If" we had stayed the girls would be in public school. It was Courtney, who I met at taekwondo, who gave me the piece that convinced John to try it. The girls would not be taking taekwondo (there is no place like that in Edgefield). There would be no Nature classes or Children's Theatre. And John would be packing again to go back to Iraq. Our lives would be nothing as they are now. So, as much as I loved that house when it was our home, I love our lives more.
Goodbye my house.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Science
I don't think it would shock anyone I know to find out I'm not great at science. I've never really enjoyed it. John loves shows on the universe and such, and sometimes I find myself watching them when he is not even home.
I've spent the last couple of weeks searching the internet for a microscope and supplies. I have finally found a couple of sites that I LOVE. Poor John. My shopping cart on one site is going to make him ache...in the wallet. :) Really the prices are great, I just want/need a lot. lol I have already created Jesse's first semester for science, so I know what she'll need. We'll have to buy a few things as we need them, like a flower with a long stem but those things are easily found.
I told John last night I was getting excited about science. I think this year will be fun for both girls, and maybe I'll learn some along the way too.
I've spent the last couple of weeks searching the internet for a microscope and supplies. I have finally found a couple of sites that I LOVE. Poor John. My shopping cart on one site is going to make him ache...in the wallet. :) Really the prices are great, I just want/need a lot. lol I have already created Jesse's first semester for science, so I know what she'll need. We'll have to buy a few things as we need them, like a flower with a long stem but those things are easily found.
I told John last night I was getting excited about science. I think this year will be fun for both girls, and maybe I'll learn some along the way too.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Sick one
Tuesday started out well, but in the afternoon Chloe started complaining about a sore throat. Wednesday morning she woke barely able to speak. By the end of the afternoon she had a low-grade fever. Thursday morning more of the same, but John and I felt she needed to see the doctor.
The doctor said her throat was slightly red, but she couldn't see her ears because of the wax. The nurse flushed out her ears and I have to say I was totally amazed by the amount that came out. The poor child, after one ear was cleaned, was elated, "I can hear!" Well, I didn't know she couldn't. I felt horrible.
So after the ear cleaning, the doc looked again and sure enough she had an infection in the right ear. Ten days of antibiotics.
The doctor said her throat was slightly red, but she couldn't see her ears because of the wax. The nurse flushed out her ears and I have to say I was totally amazed by the amount that came out. The poor child, after one ear was cleaned, was elated, "I can hear!" Well, I didn't know she couldn't. I felt horrible.
So after the ear cleaning, the doc looked again and sure enough she had an infection in the right ear. Ten days of antibiotics.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
So much for change
I thought yesterday we may have better luck with science if I scheduled that one subject out more. So I pulled out the books Jesse will use as a spine next year and started creating a schedule. It was not until I completed two months of said schedule that I realized we were suppose to have science one day a week (Friday) and not Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday!! {eye roll} So much for changing our schedule. I suppose after five years of doing something it is hard for your brain to adjust to something a little different. Therefore, we will do all subjects Tuesday through Thursday, and on Friday we will do everything but science. :)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Curriculum
While I'm sure most people who read our blog are tired of homeschool stuff, I am very happy right now. This morning I ordered the last of our books for next year (and a couple for the following year). In a couple of weeks, we will have, in our possession, all the books we need to start our new school year on July 19th. Yes, I do remember the girls are still in school (I'm watching them work as I type). :)
I'm laughing right now because I know all my homeschool friends reading this are excited for me and wondering what I ordered (unless I saw them a couple of hours ago then they already know). For homeschool moms, and dads, placing the final order for books or finishing collecting all the info on-line is the most fabulous place to be. You, usually, have just finished or about to finish one school year and you are set and ready for the next. There is a euphoria about it. Unless you homeschool, maybe teach, you will not understand. You can only imagine, but really it is beyond imagination. It is the wonderous notion that something new is about to begin. Something new and fulfilling, maybe it is a new subject or a new curriculum. Or simply a new schedule. But most homeschoolers I know change something for the next year. And it is exciting!
So for those still wondering, I ordered the last two sets of Spelling Workout. I am excited Jesse will soon finsih these books and also worried I may not find a book for vocabulary I like and will have to create my own. Timing is always an issue for me on "creating", that is why I like workbooks. Plus, my girls love workbooks.
I'm laughing right now because I know all my homeschool friends reading this are excited for me and wondering what I ordered (unless I saw them a couple of hours ago then they already know). For homeschool moms, and dads, placing the final order for books or finishing collecting all the info on-line is the most fabulous place to be. You, usually, have just finished or about to finish one school year and you are set and ready for the next. There is a euphoria about it. Unless you homeschool, maybe teach, you will not understand. You can only imagine, but really it is beyond imagination. It is the wonderous notion that something new is about to begin. Something new and fulfilling, maybe it is a new subject or a new curriculum. Or simply a new schedule. But most homeschoolers I know change something for the next year. And it is exciting!
So for those still wondering, I ordered the last two sets of Spelling Workout. I am excited Jesse will soon finsih these books and also worried I may not find a book for vocabulary I like and will have to create my own. Timing is always an issue for me on "creating", that is why I like workbooks. Plus, my girls love workbooks.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Reality
Yesterday, I posted a question to the three homeschool groups we belong to. I honestly did not expect much. So far I have recieved forty replies to my question, some to the group and some private. But forty responses, I never would have imagined. The question started due to some forums and blogs I've been reading lately. You see this is the time of year where most homeschool parents are choosing curriculum and planning.
I began wondering if I was doing well enough. Yes, I know my children are bright, polite and engaging people to be around. But sometimes I question if what I am teaching them is enough.
In so many of the responses I received, they talked about how blogs only show the good stuff. The clean house full of happy children. These wonderful peers of mine, some I know personally and some I do not, are so correct! I even find myself doing just that, only show the "good" stuff.
The real reason I have not posted a picture of our backyard to show the difference from last year to this is because the weeds have taken over the garden and flower beds. Yes, I have mentioned it here. But to "show" it I could not bring myself to do. I will take a picture this afternoon, with the weeds!! And I will post it here tomorrow (today is too crazy!, oops, normal).
I have also mentioned Chloe's problems in math, which is why we will not come close to finishing her math book this year. We spent a lot of time going over mulitiplication and division. I am not worried though because I know in the next book it will go over all of it again and then some.
Honest, huh? My house is ALWAYS a mess unless someone is coming over. Which is why everyone thinks I am so organized. I would love to be organized! Organized is how I personally like to function, but I clean up after three children (one is tall and will be forty soon!). I cannot keep up with household chores, homeschooling, taekwondo, Avon, candy making and pet care. And I have not even mentioned the yard, gardening or weeding. So there. We are messy. Sorry John (love ya).
So from now on I will try to post more of the "not so good". The "I feel insane today" moments of life where I really wish I had a rock big enough for me to crawl under. I still strive for perfection, but honestly I'm so far from it I will never see it in this lifetime. Now, I just need to adjust to that reality.
I began wondering if I was doing well enough. Yes, I know my children are bright, polite and engaging people to be around. But sometimes I question if what I am teaching them is enough.
In so many of the responses I received, they talked about how blogs only show the good stuff. The clean house full of happy children. These wonderful peers of mine, some I know personally and some I do not, are so correct! I even find myself doing just that, only show the "good" stuff.
The real reason I have not posted a picture of our backyard to show the difference from last year to this is because the weeds have taken over the garden and flower beds. Yes, I have mentioned it here. But to "show" it I could not bring myself to do. I will take a picture this afternoon, with the weeds!! And I will post it here tomorrow (today is too crazy!, oops, normal).
I have also mentioned Chloe's problems in math, which is why we will not come close to finishing her math book this year. We spent a lot of time going over mulitiplication and division. I am not worried though because I know in the next book it will go over all of it again and then some.
Honest, huh? My house is ALWAYS a mess unless someone is coming over. Which is why everyone thinks I am so organized. I would love to be organized! Organized is how I personally like to function, but I clean up after three children (one is tall and will be forty soon!). I cannot keep up with household chores, homeschooling, taekwondo, Avon, candy making and pet care. And I have not even mentioned the yard, gardening or weeding. So there. We are messy. Sorry John (love ya).
So from now on I will try to post more of the "not so good". The "I feel insane today" moments of life where I really wish I had a rock big enough for me to crawl under. I still strive for perfection, but honestly I'm so far from it I will never see it in this lifetime. Now, I just need to adjust to that reality.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Music Man Jr.
The cast list for "Music Man Jr." was emailed yesterday afternoon. The girls are in! They both made the chorus; we knew their voices would not be strong enough for leads, so they are thrilled with the chorus!
Chloe is "Wa Tan Yee/River City Kid", not sure if that is one thing or two because some kids just say "River City Kid". Jesse is "Pick A Little Lady", again don't know what that is. We'll find out more about the parts at the first rehearsal.
The girls are especially excited about all of our homeschooling friends who tried out and they got in too! This one show should be great fun for them. Not only do they get to see their "new" friends again from "Peter Pan", but they also get to see their "old" friends over the summer.
Chloe is "Wa Tan Yee/River City Kid", not sure if that is one thing or two because some kids just say "River City Kid". Jesse is "Pick A Little Lady", again don't know what that is. We'll find out more about the parts at the first rehearsal.
The girls are especially excited about all of our homeschooling friends who tried out and they got in too! This one show should be great fun for them. Not only do they get to see their "new" friends again from "Peter Pan", but they also get to see their "old" friends over the summer.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Spanish (my lack of)
I was sitting here doing some research on Story of the World (our history). But the background noises of the classroom kept calling my attention.
I found myself listening to Jesse's Spanish lesson (just her side because she is wearing headphones). And I realize just how far AHEAD of me they really are. I got "que" and that was it!
I really need to catch up with those girls!!
I found myself listening to Jesse's Spanish lesson (just her side because she is wearing headphones). And I realize just how far AHEAD of me they really are. I got "que" and that was it!
I really need to catch up with those girls!!
Discussions gone awry
John was off on Monday. He decided breakfast should be at Tiffany's, so off we went. It was an enjoyable meal until...
John said he was going to reclaim our garden space. His reason was because we have not taken care of it. I admit (and have here in the past) it has become overrun with weeds. I said, "Can't you give us a warning, rather than just taking it away?"
This is when our wonderful nine-year-old, who learns things from places even I don't know where she gets it, piped in. "Yeah, Dad! Even the county sends you a letter and gives you a deadline!" Well, that was all we needed. He relented and gave us until June 30th to have it cleand out.
Yesterday morning all three of us were out there pulling weeds to SAVE OUR GARDEN! :) I love the girls do not want to give up this space. So much so they are willing to work hard for it. Of coarse, they are the first ones out to pick the veggies when there is a garden. They love it. So I am hoping that not only will we have all the weeds taken care of by June 30th, but I will find a way to put some plants in too. Or else it will be too late to have one this year. :(
John said he was going to reclaim our garden space. His reason was because we have not taken care of it. I admit (and have here in the past) it has become overrun with weeds. I said, "Can't you give us a warning, rather than just taking it away?"
This is when our wonderful nine-year-old, who learns things from places even I don't know where she gets it, piped in. "Yeah, Dad! Even the county sends you a letter and gives you a deadline!" Well, that was all we needed. He relented and gave us until June 30th to have it cleand out.
Yesterday morning all three of us were out there pulling weeds to SAVE OUR GARDEN! :) I love the girls do not want to give up this space. So much so they are willing to work hard for it. Of coarse, they are the first ones out to pick the veggies when there is a garden. They love it. So I am hoping that not only will we have all the weeds taken care of by June 30th, but I will find a way to put some plants in too. Or else it will be too late to have one this year. :(
Monday, June 6, 2011
Another birthday...
I celebrated another birthday, thankfully, this weekend. THIS year was a good one.
Last year my birthday fell on the day before we were leaving for the beach for a work conference for John. We spent the day traveling back and forth from my parents to drop off Rosie. John had been very busy with preparing and had no time to shop. He did create some wonderful "coupons" for a foot or back rub. :) I did enjoy those. But my birthday did not really feel like a birthday last year, just a day with cake.
This year John made up for it!! He took the day off (it was drill weekend)!! This is only the second day he is has missed of drill since we've been together; the other was due to him being sick. Well, that will make a girl feel special! And he didn't tell me or the girls until that morning! Stinker! ;) Then there were the presents! Oh, so many of them!
Chloe made me a little card, and wrapped it, that read, "Mom its your birthday" with a smiley face. She also gave me a Snoopy and Woodstock desk sign that says, "Happiness is a little hug". I love it!!
Jesse continued with the Peanuts theme, with pins and pens!!! She is corny like that, but I love it (and her of course). She also gave me a koozie, which the girls decided last night would make a great pen holder.
John did awesome! He actually found time to shop this year and boy did he. He bought me a (how do you describe it), a zipper bag with eco bags. Five eco bags roll up to go inside of the zippered bag. Now, bags won't be all over my car!! He also found me a pocket book from a designer in Atlanta, cinda b. I've never heard of her before, but apparantly she is very popular. The bag is great!! He always picks out funky bags I wouldn't pick for myself and I wind up loving it. And I do LOVE it!!
I will post a picture later of my new treasures. The camera is downstairs and I'm feeling lazy right this second.
They got me a cake from Tiffany's bakery and took me out to lunch Sunday to Gilligan's!
While in Lexington, we went shopping at the Target there, with the money my parents gave me. SO, they "bought" me two exercise shirts (how did they know I'd been eyeing them??), new gardening gloves (in a gorgeous green!), and a drawer organizer for my Wilton gels. They also "bought" me two new Wilton decorating tips and a tip cleaner! They are just awesome!! ;)
UPDATE: The remainder of my birthday money from my parents went to the purchase of two new houseplants (and potting soil) this morning. Thanks, Dad and Mom!!!
Last year my birthday fell on the day before we were leaving for the beach for a work conference for John. We spent the day traveling back and forth from my parents to drop off Rosie. John had been very busy with preparing and had no time to shop. He did create some wonderful "coupons" for a foot or back rub. :) I did enjoy those. But my birthday did not really feel like a birthday last year, just a day with cake.
This year John made up for it!! He took the day off (it was drill weekend)!! This is only the second day he is has missed of drill since we've been together; the other was due to him being sick. Well, that will make a girl feel special! And he didn't tell me or the girls until that morning! Stinker! ;) Then there were the presents! Oh, so many of them!
Chloe made me a little card, and wrapped it, that read, "Mom its your birthday" with a smiley face. She also gave me a Snoopy and Woodstock desk sign that says, "Happiness is a little hug". I love it!!
Jesse continued with the Peanuts theme, with pins and pens!!! She is corny like that, but I love it (and her of course). She also gave me a koozie, which the girls decided last night would make a great pen holder.
John did awesome! He actually found time to shop this year and boy did he. He bought me a (how do you describe it), a zipper bag with eco bags. Five eco bags roll up to go inside of the zippered bag. Now, bags won't be all over my car!! He also found me a pocket book from a designer in Atlanta, cinda b. I've never heard of her before, but apparantly she is very popular. The bag is great!! He always picks out funky bags I wouldn't pick for myself and I wind up loving it. And I do LOVE it!!
I will post a picture later of my new treasures. The camera is downstairs and I'm feeling lazy right this second.
They got me a cake from Tiffany's bakery and took me out to lunch Sunday to Gilligan's!
While in Lexington, we went shopping at the Target there, with the money my parents gave me. SO, they "bought" me two exercise shirts (how did they know I'd been eyeing them??), new gardening gloves (in a gorgeous green!), and a drawer organizer for my Wilton gels. They also "bought" me two new Wilton decorating tips and a tip cleaner! They are just awesome!! ;)
UPDATE: The remainder of my birthday money from my parents went to the purchase of two new houseplants (and potting soil) this morning. Thanks, Dad and Mom!!!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Dream a little dream
At 5:10 this morning, I awoke to screaming. Chloe was apparantly having a dream and yelling at someone in her sleep. "Yes, I can!!" I am happy to know, even in her sleep, she is strong-willed and determined. Makes a momma proud.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)