We've been transfomed!!

By Transformers, that is. We just got home from seeing the new Transformers movie. It was really good. I had read the reviews and heard what others were saying about it, mostly negative but as usual when I checked it out form myself it ended up being really good. My kids both liked it more than the first movie.

We have been busy trying to fit a whole weekend into less than a day and a half that my hubby was home. Yesterday and this morning was spent mowing grass and doing things around the house then we took off for the theater.

Now I need to get the kids to bed early since tomorrow we begin swim practice in the mornings, 9 a.m. We are not morning people so this should be interesting. After getting them tucked in it will be time for my hubby and I to enjoy our favorite show on HBO, True Blood. All in all a great weekend.

Hello all!

I had planned on blogging about the goings on around our house, but after the events of yesterday I just would like to share my thoughts on Michael Jackson's death.

To say that I was shocked yesterday when I heard of his death would be and understatement. He was one of those people that just seemed immortal. I know he has been weird and accused of awful things. But that is not the Michael I think of when I hear his name. I think of the boy that danced to Thriller and Beat It. I remember dancing to those songs, dressing like him and thinking that everything he did was so cool. He was a big part of my late elementary and jr. high school years.

My heart goes out to his family and children. No matter what he has done or how crazy he lived, everyone I have seen interviewed did note that he was a wonderful father and loved his children. My heart is with them. The music industry will never be the same without him.

Swim Meets!

Last night we had our second swim meet of the season and it was a blast. Swimming has turned out to be one of the best activities we have ever tried. Both Poogie and TT love the meets and practices. The meets offer them a chance to spend time with their buddies and make new friends with kids from the other teams. You can make the meets as competitive as you want to, which I just love. Both of mine are competitive to a point but not to where it isn't fun anymore. They just enjoy being out there and doing their best.

This was a great pic of Poogie and TT before the meet. They actually love being on the same team. Plus, mom only has to be in one place to see them both, a great bonus.

This pic shows the main reason we love the meets. TT and his buddies hang out between heats. The friendships are great. They support each other while swimming and amuse each other during down time.

This pic did not turn out so good but I had to show Poogie hanging out with her buddies too. Plus, this pic also includes one of their coaches, Ms. A. They have been so blessed to have such sweet supportive coaches.

This pic is of TT on the starting block. Don't you just love the suits. At first the boys really didn't like them because of the bubbles on them, but after going to a meet and seeing how great they all look together the love them.

Here is Poogie on the starting block. She looks so tiny up there, but that doesn't stop her from kickin' butt.

This meet required them both to compete in four events. TT swam the free, back, relay and 100meter IM. Poogie swam the free, breast, relay and 100 IM. This was the first 100 IM for both of them, and they had to swim it at the end of the night. It was hard on both of them. What was amazing was seeing my 7 year old swim the same event at my 12 year old. They both finished in the middle of the field. Which was good with it being Poogies first time and longest swim ever (most of their swims are just 25 meters on one length of the pool, not 4), and TT first time and having to the the breast stroke his least favorite. For those of you that don't know what a 100m IM is it requires the swimmers to swim 4 lengths of the pool, swimming a different stroke with each length. The order of stokes was butterfly, back, breast and free. I will post the results of their heats when I get them tomorrow.

They have both been swimming with the year round swim team at practice, and I have to say it has really paid off. Their endurance and focus just amazes me. I am so proud of them.

A toothache and new curriculum

I am still suffering from this horrible toothache. I can't wait until I go to the dentist tomorrow. The only way I am coping is with pain medicine and soft food to eat. I hate that I am missing out on such a beautiful weekend outside and visiting church with friends, but I am too out of it to do much of anything. That is the trade off, be in pain or loopy. I choose loopy over the blinding pain I have had the last few days.

Anywho, I took a moment to post my curriculum for next year for those of you that are interested.

For TT I have changed from my original plan. He has come so far in his math since just May we have decided to go on into pre-algebra. Since he is above level on all other subjects, we have decided to just jump into 8th grade. We shall see how it goes. He is old enough to be in 8th since I started him a year late in kindergarten, so that is not an issue. My curriculum for him is a mixture of 7th and 8th grade.

Math-Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra
Science-Apologia
History-Bob Jones
Grammar-Easy Grammar Plus & Editor in Chief
Writing-Write Shop
Literature-Various novels such as (The Outsiders, Tuck Everlasting, The Giver and Tom Sawyer)
Foreign Language-German (Mango Languages) One Semester
Computer Literacy-One Semester
P.E. -YMCA program and swim team

For Poogie, who will be in 2nd grade, my choices have been pretty easy. We have added a full history and science program this year.

Math-Saxon
Science-Bob Jones
History-Bob Jones
English-Bob Jones
Reading-Bob Jones
Spelling-Bob Jones
Handwriting-Bob Jones
P.E.-YMCA program and multiple dance classes
Typing-Spongebob Typing

So there it is. All is bought and paid for, now all I have to do it get it all organized and ready to go. That's the fun part!

I've got it all!!

YES! I ordered the last of our curriculum for next year this evening. I waited until today to order because we had our last used curriculum sale today and I was hoping to make some money to help purchase the books and to maybe find some of it used. No such luck finding the last few things used but I did make a little over half of the amount needed to order the rest of our curriculum. That made me pretty happy! Now all I need to do is re-enroll the kids in their umbrella school for next fall and I would like to buy them each a desk. Other than that we are ready to go.

I made it through the ordeal today even though I had a terrible tooth ache. I have a dentist appointment for Monday but I hate that our weekend will be ruined because I feel so terrible.
I will post my finalized curriculum choices for next year in a day or two when I am feeling better.

The Big Show!

Yes, we made it. The big show is over. I have to say it was a relief to have it over and done with but also a little bittersweet. I loved watching all the girls dance, especially my Poogie and I hated to see it end. But alas it has and now we only have swim team. What will I do with all my free time;)

The show went off beautifully. Poogie had several friends show up to see her dance. It was a wonderful treat for her to have support other than family there. It was very touching. Most were very surprised of the level of talent at the recital. Our school puts on one heck of a show. Poogie surprised me at her calm and control on stage. She was so focused. She just amazes me.

After being there for 2 shows and a short break for dinner, we arrived home after 10p.m., we got there at 12:30 for the first show. The day was very long, but rewarding. Poogie surprised me when I arrived on stage to get her at the end of the night by saying "Mom when can I do it again?". I was dog tired and all I had done was sit in the audience. She was still dancing on the way to the dressing room to change out of her tutu. I couldn't believe she still had energy. The burst was short lived when we arrived home and she fell into bed falling to sleep almost instantly. So sweet, my little ballerina.

We made it to the finale!!

Whew! What a week it has been. This is Poogie's final week of dance. We had rehearsals all week. Tuesday was 2 and a half hours of studio rehearsal and then we were off to the kids first swim meet. They did excellent. Where Poogie got the energy I do not know, but she swam in 4 events. TT really kicked it in and showed his stuff. I was very proud of both of them and the entire team.

Wednesday was free, well free in that we didn't have to go to dance or swim. I ended up doing tons of laundry and cleaning house. Thursday and today was spent at dress rehearsal. We enjoyed it.

When I first decided to put Poogie in this new dance school I heard horror stories of hours and hours of waiting at rehearsal. We were there for several hours but it was just enough for her group to rehearse and to get pictures taken. Not a lot of time was wasted. It was very organized and well managed, I was impressed. In fact everything about her new school has been excellent from the teachers to the experience itself. She loves it.

Tomorrow is the big show. Poogie will be performing in both shows so it will be a long day, but well worth it. I can't wait to see her shine.

Memorial Day weekend!

So far our weekend has been nice. Saturday was spent with my sweet Poogie. We went shopping, a girls day. I ended up buying her some pretty dresses to wear this summer. There were some really good sales out there so we got some good bargains.

My hubby didn't get home from work until late that evening so we just stayed in and watched movies. Today was spent just being lazy this morning. It was nice just to hang out and not really do anything. Then we went to church with some friends of ours. It is our second visit to the church. I have to say I am really enjoying it. It is a whole new experience for my family, and so far a good one.

Tonight we have been experiencing rain, storms, and even a tornado close by. I would like to have a weekend free of rain. It seems like it has rained all spring. I'm definitely ready for some sunny days. Maybe tomorrow will be sunny, a way to end the weekend on a bright note.

We have a guest!!

That's right we have a guest in our home this week. His name is Bandit and he is a sweet guinea pig. We were lucky enough to watch the little guy while his owner is busy in Washington D.C. at the National Spelling Bee!!

So far it has been interesting. My hubby has never liked the little critters much, but I love them. So this is a kind of test drive to see if one day we can have one or a rabbit of our own. Our chihuahua, Buffy is very interested. It was love at first sight for her. She just can't get enough of the little guy. Every move he makes, she goes nuts. She whines and he peeps at her. It is hilarious.

My hopes and prayers are with TT's friend and his family as they travel to D.C. for him to compete in the bee.

Long time...

Yes, I know it has been a while since I blogged. A good friend and obviously an actual reader of my blog noted this evening that she has missed reading my blogs. It was nice to hear that someone actually reads about all my rambling and daily drama.

Well, life has been busy these last few months, I won't lie to ya. Between dance, swim team, play dates, social events and just daily life I have been running myself crazy. After next week dance ends for Poogie, but what a week it will be. We have studio and dress rehearsals several days and then recital on Saturday. Plus, we have swim practice and our first swim meet. Thank goodness I have a great network of fellow homeschoolers and girlfriends that help me out when I need it.

I have also been shopping for curriculum for next year and planning science lessons to teach at the YMCA program next year. That's right I am slipping on my teaching hat and will be teaching my favorite subject, science. We will see how it all goes.

I just wanted to take a moment to publish the latest pics of my kids with their swim team buddies at our swim-a-thon. The kids swam and raised money for their suits and other team necessities. I have to say that the swim team has been a great activity to be involved in. It has improved my kids focus, determination and overall health. They are in the best shape ever, especially TT and they love it.

Well, I must take a little mommy time now that the sweet ones are in bed.