I HAVE MOVED...

Come find me at my new home!

Day 78. Confessions.

 I think I have been so caught up in making sure that I am DOING SCHOOL correctly that I have forgotten to DO SCHOOL. Can that be possible? 

I think it can. For I know those that are so busy planning their lives, they forget to live them. So focused on creating the correct process in which to implement something, that they forget why they even need the process. 

Sometimes you HAVE TO LET GO...and just do, just be, just let it happen.

I feel like the kids are not learning. I mean they are passing tests. Our days seem to be a series of check marks to finish curriculum for the day. A countdown 'til summer, just like my bloggy blog. Perhaps this is because of the type of curriculum I have chosen, am I implementing it incorrectly, mid year blahs, or the overachiever in me?

It's very hard to balance two older kids with two different curriculums, and a curious and insanely active pre-k student. Meet all their needs at once.

Home school fairy god mother, where are you? Hmmmm.

 Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it; 

   the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!

Proverbs 14:6  (the message)

Now there are just 92 school days left until summer.

Day 77. Guests Are Coming.

It's amazing when you learn something new, start paying attention to it, and find that it is everywhere, ya know? Three families I know in the last month, have decided to homeschool. I couldn't be happier. For them of course, but let's just be honest...more FRIENDS along the way. I want to find a forum where I can get all kinds of information. Books just really don't work out for me. They have no pictures, they are long, and well sometimes boring. I want to hear from a real live person. Perhaps through a convention, where experts can speak, or people share real life experiences or through my friends. That is how I learn best.

SO SO SO....that leads me to the GUESTS ARE COMING title of today's post. I decided to contact some people via Facebook to see if they would consider guest posting on my blog. Would you believe that I had 35 people that I know that either homeschool or were home schooled. That's amazing. What a resource. I have contacted these people and have I'm in from 9 lined up so far. This series of amazing incredible peeps is coming soon. All aspects will be represented from newbies, to veterans, to kids who were, to peeps who haven't even started yet.  They are going to share their best tips, or personal stories. 

How fabulous is this gonna be? Can't wait.

Now there are just 93 school days left until summer.

Day 76. Copy Cat.

Have you ever noticed when you are in a new situation that doing some familiar things just makes you feel "normal?"

I left my home church of 25 years, a few years back, when my husband accepted a worship pastor position at a new church in Elk Grove, Ca. EVERYTHING was foreign. I hated it in the beginning. People in this strange place, talked about things like getting stuck behind the train, power lines too close to their house, and the developers buying up too much land. Well five years later, I can say I do hate getting stuck behind the train, I still could care less where they put the power lines, and I wish the developers would buy all the land and DEVELOP it. At the time however, I was completely lost.

One night after I had been here a couple of months, I attended a scrapbook night at the church. FINALLY, I understood and related to what people were talking about. I knew what the circle cutter was, related to being overwhelmed with too many pictures, and absolutely understood how you want to own ALL the scrapbook paper, but really have no use for that much of it. It may seem silly, but on that night, I met some of the best friends I have here, still to this day.

My point is, that familiarity is comforting. Therefore, we have decided to put on an open house for our school. The kids looked forward to the one night each year that people came to see what THEY were doing and learning at Bradshaw. We got to step into their world and understand a little bit more. We will be busy getting ready for it. The kids are excited and planning is underway. It will be held during the first part of March and pictures will come for sure! Stay tuned....

Now there are just 94 school days left until summer.

Day 75. Take Me Away.

Somedays are "don't get out of bed, kinda ones" and for SOME days, its o.k. Today is such a day. In my house right now...Cameron is studying science. Taylor is reading the Secret Garden. Emma is racing Mario and I, am dreaming of a few of my favorite places....

Oh, just being in this store inspires me. It is absolutely a true expression of what I love.

How about some exotic ness? Like Kauai? I  have been to the Caribbean and the beaches of Rio.  Can I tell you that Kauai is still my favorite? What's not to love?

 aaaahhh, and then there is the place where red bulls eye lives...enough said.

How about a Broadway Show? I'll see any production of anything and find something to love about it. There are so many to get lost in...I love 'em all. It's one of my greatest escapes.

And last but not least...Mickey and Minnie are always at their front door waiting for me...

see?

and now there is just 95 school days left until summer....

I'm Packing.

I am packing and will soon be moving to my new blog home, in a land called

Just A Night Owl.

Here is a sneak peek of my new logo.
My site will be up soon.

My husband designed a fantastic new space for me.

I love you Babe...

Thank you!

PLAY Wall Art.

This simple reminder and good use of scrapbook paper hangs on the wall in my home. I bought sixteen wooden squares from Joann's ( I had to special order).  I bought some yummy scrapbook paper with lots of different textures and some wooden letters to spell one of my favorite words... 

P L A Y. Then I grabbed some left over fabric and embellishments from around the house and went to work.

1. Paint the sides of all squares. Make sure and paint the face of four of the squares that will hold the wooden letters on the rest, it doesn't matter. I chose ivory paint.

2. Paint the wooden letters to the desired color. I chose black.

3. Cut the paper/fabric to size for the face of the squares. I used both fabric and paper on mine.

4. Use Modge Podge to adhere papers, fabrics, and letters onto the squares.

5. Use any flowers, charms, ribbons, stickers, to accessorize... should you desire! 

This quote to live by 

"Never underestimate the power of acting young silly and crazy"

was a sticker mounted on light green solid scrapbook paper and mounted again on my original polka dot paper

The blue paper had a cool little BE YOURSELF design already in the design so I just cut it to make sure I had that part showing and then added three self adhesive silver embellishments

Make sure you paint all the sides of the squares! As clearly, thanks to this pic above, I missed a bit on the toile square. OOPS! I have to go back and do that one...

I used command strips to hang these up.

(YES, they really DO work!)

I want to make more! Imagine the possibilities!

I'VE MOVED! COME FIND ME AT MY NEW HOME...

I am linking up with

 

Day 74. Warp Speed.

I do not envy the responsibility a teacher holds. I mean on days when I seriously question my abilities, motives, and performance....I think about the first year teaching. Must be rough. At least if I screw up a kid, it's gonna be my own, right? There is some sick twisted comfort in that.

I think its safe to officially say we will be homeschooling again next year. One of the things I will do differently is to have school from a certain time to a certain time. Right now school is a check list of curriculum to get through. I can not tell you how much that does not fit with my family. It's like chocolate ice cream and onions. Does NOT go together.

I did very little research, if any, outside of A Beka because we were doing this for one year initially. Their curriculum is broken down into 170 lessons...Therefore, 170 days. Clever, huh? I just assumed. It's the rookie in me. I now know better.

So, what's my point? Well, a lot of things that count for "school" I have not "counted" for school. So my attendance sheets and blog posts don't always match up. Who cares? No one really....just warning you that for the next couple weeks the "extra" stuff will be trimmed down and the core info kicked up to catch us back up to where I want to be.

Hang on....we're gonna fly.

Day 73 Orphaned in Haiti.

I came across this story Orphaned in Haiti at Heather's blog. Take a minute to read it and pray for this family. There has been SO much tragedy in Haiti that we can not even begin to wrap our heads around what's going on. This story put some faces to just a piece of it. I can not even imagine all the emotions that this little boy has been feeling. The fear, excitement, disappointment, relief, the unknown? How about his adoptive parents? They really are amazing people. The love for a child. Isn't he handsome?

I knew immediately, there was no question, that we wanted to help. I read the story to my kids and we talked about what to do. Their money for some toys at dollar tree, welcome cards, a new outfit from Target, and a handmade fleece blanket seemed perfect. Gina at Blessed in Red Headed Bliss immediately jumped right in to help too. She's that kinda girl! Thanks G.

Shawn was doing his thing, singing at a concert for Courage House Ministries (another amazing amazing story) last Friday night. The kids and I went shopping for this sweet boy and went out to dinner, together. We talked about Haiti and Ronel off and on, all night long. The conversations were priceless as we discussed the strength Ronel must have, the courage of his new parents, and how scary that earthquake must have really been. They asked a million questions to which I usually replied, "well, what do you think?" They always had an answer. These kids jumped outside of themselves ALL night long. It was awesome.

First stop was the dollar tree. The kids all pitched in and bought 2 puzzles, a ball, a yo yo, and a car.

Next stop was Dos Coyotes...YYUUMM...then off to Target where we acquired this killer little Shaun T White ensemble... and decided every boy needs to have his own soccer ball and bubble gum, for sure!

Final stop was off to Joann's to get some yummy, cozy fleece.

Emma picked out these two patterns, all on her own. Taylor and I put the blanket together.

There is nothin' like a new fleece blankie and we sure

 hope Ronel feels cozy and safe under his new one.

This morning during school, the kids all made cards...

and we packed up his items and went to the post office...

A box full of goodies is on its way to Ronel and his new family. We wish them ALL the best. People like this are inspiring and we hope these few small things can put a smile on their face. We sure had fun putting it together. Thank you Heather for sharing their story and allowing us to be a part of it.

Now there are just 97 school days left until summer.

In Control Of My Goals.

Hi, my name is Darcy and I am a control freak....and also a bit of a success junkie...and o.k. I'm pretty hard on myself too. Making goals for myself to achieve things in my life is something that I have always done. However, when I do not get the result that I want I tend F R R R R E A K and obsess. I have found that a lot of times, looking back, I make the goal to be the desired outcome. This seems reasonable, right? However, in evaluating the situations I have failed in, some of the things that I have set as my goals, are beyond my control. Then the "failure" in them inevitably produces a downward spiral in me. Here is an example...

If you have been following my Minority Reports at all, you will see that I am in a frustration stand off against my metabolism. I used to make goals like....I am going to lose 10 pounds this month.

Well, my thinking has changed. I can do everything "right" and if I have a scared metabolism from years of harsh behavior, or hit a plateau phase during dieting, or even have lack of knowledge or skill in an area... I can still find that I worked my butt off and came up short. Therefore, failure, in light of my set goal. Therefore, frustration. Therefore, negativity. Therefore, the impending and ceremonial...throwing in of the towel.

An example of one of my old goals would have been to drop at least two pounds a week. First time that doesn't happen. I'm done. I have failed. It's terrible, I know. However, true.

So now...Here's what I do. 

Q   What do I want?         

A   To look like Jillian Micheals O.K. noted exaggeration, realistically lose 30 pounds. Although, I wouldn't mind being Jillian's twin.

Q    What do I need to do?

A     Eat 1500 calories a day, exercise 5 times a week, cut out diet coke, and get 7 hours of sleep a night. 

THOSE things, in general, I can control. It's my part of the process. That is what my focus needs to be. I have the ability to succeed in that. Therefore, that should be my goal. I can not control what I lose each week. 1-2 pounds a week will hopefully be the outcome, once my goals listed above have been achieved. I just need the ability to succeed in my goal setting. 

Make sense? This maybe just the ramblings of an overachiever, but it has freed my thinking up tremendously. It can apply in lots of different areas of my life and it has helped me to let go of control. All I should focus on, is doing the right thing in my daily part of the process. The rest is up to God anyway, isn't it?

Sleep Like A Baby?

Where DOES that phrase come from?
It is just plain weird. 

Each of our kids have been SO different in their sleep patterns, right from the beginning. Cameron had to cry himself to sleep EVERY nap and bedtime for quite some time. Taylor was a fantastic sleeper from the beginning. She slept through the night for the first time, her 3rd week of life (o.k. she was 10.6 lbs at birth, that probably helped). Emma's sleeping has been nothing short of chaotic, just like her wonderful eclectic little personality. She is 5.5 and is still napping a solid 90 minutes a day. However, she suffers from frequent bad dreams at night. The screaming, sweating, waking up in a sheer panic kind. It breaks my heart. Her other sleep "issue" since baby-land is this...Looks peaceful enough, right?

Here it is just seconds later...

and seconds after that...

and a few more seconds after that...

This child is so rough in her sleep. She tosses and turns and thrashes all night long.

I find her in the most interesting positions ever.

See what I mean? Who can fall asleep like this?

Some things never change.

Christmas ABC's Album.

You may remember my post awhile back about my sweet little friend Lillian. I wanted to share with you a great gift idea that can be changed up to fit any theme. I did a Christmas ABC's album to give to Lillian's family. I don't have pictures of the completed product, but here is what I did.

A picture of Lillian with a Christmas object for every letter of the alphabet was the goal. It took a couple photo sessions to accomplish, but we did it. Here are some of my favorite shots.

A is for ANGEL

D is for Darling Santa Hat

E is for Egg Nog

M is for Mary

P is for Please No More Pictures

and S is for Star

I chose to print all the pictures in black and white matte finish.  I purchased some coordinating lilac, aqua, and silver papers and letter punch outs. I kept the decor VERY simple in the 8x8 album to keep darling Lillian as the focus of each page. 

A wonderful keepsake for her family to treasure.

AND I couldn't stand that I didn't have one to keep, so I inserted all the pictures into an iphoto book and printed one for myself!

This could be changed to Valentine ABC's, birthday ABC's or anything your mind can imagine!

Have fun!