Down Home in TN

Wish list

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:37:00 +0000

As I sit here thinking about the upcoming holiday season, reviewing my kids very short but pricey wish lists, I am reminded that it has been quite a while since I made a wish list of my own. I remember around this time of year as a child I would begin to draft my first versions of a wish list for Santa. That list would change several times before the final draft was written, for that I am sorry for my parents. I know how it is to think you have found something on that wish list only for it to be dropped from the list shortly there after.

With that said I began to think about what I would put on a Christmas list. Then I came to the conclusion that I would have to make a dream wish list and then come back to reality and make a real one. So here it goes.

My Dream Christmas List:
1. A Canon digital SLR Camera
2. A 12x12 Epson printer
3. A $1000 dollar shopping spree at Archivers or at the Mall for clothes
4. A new Volvo XC90
5. A new house with a scrapbook and school room.
6. A miniature Yorkie puppy, and an American Bulldog puppy

And now back to reality.
My real list:
1. A new set of pots and pans, mine are in terrible shape
2. An electric griddle to make my family yummy pancakes.
3. A waffle maker
4. Adobe Photoshop 7
5. New house shoes

There might be more things I would add to either list, but I really had to think hard to come up with both lists. It's just not something I think about that often. I have to say it felt good to think about even if it is just for fun.

It was AWESOME

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Yes, New Moon was awesome! The werewolves were beautiful, and so was Jacob. It was well worth the wait, now if Eclipse would just come out sooner. Even my hubby liked it. Hmm. I may have to go see it again! Lol.

New Moon is here

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:31:00 +0000

I can't believe it but in about 15 hours I will be sitting down to watch New Moon. I know I sound like one of those teenage girls, but I feel like on when I think of seeing some of my favorite characters on the screen. This installment also includes one of my favorite supernatural creatures, werewolves. I mean I like the vampires and all but its the werewolves I am going to see. And after a day like I have had it gives me something to look forward to.

I got a great surprise this morning while teaching Poogie her math lesson. I took a dinner mint, you know the soft melt in your mouth ones, and popped it in my mouth, bit down and crack! One of my porcelain crowns busted into several pieces. It is part of a large bridge so it isn't something that can simply be replaced. My dentist is ordering the stuff to fix it, and hopefully next week all will be right again. I sure hope so. But, until then I have Bella, Edward and of course Jacob to keep me in good spirits.

True Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:34:00 +0000

I am experiencing something that has eluded me for quite some time, time alone. Not only time alone, but time alone at home no less. Being a stay at home, homeschooling mom time alone at home is almost unheard of. But thanks to my wonderful hubby I am sitting in front of my computer with a chocolate bar and diet coke. Funny how such small things can make one so happy.

I best take this moment for all it can offer because it will be quite a while before I can even glimpse another day at home with no place to go or time alone. I am focused on getting through the next few weeks till the Nutcracker and then enjoying the rest afterwards.

With all that said we are still plugging away at school. We have missed a few days here and there due to my hubby being home, but all in all we are staying on task.

I am looking forward to beginning my Christmas shopping and decorations. I usually try to be almost done by Thanksgiving but that will not happen this year. I hope to start in the next week or so and finish up in early December.

I taught my last class for the year at the YMCA yesterday. It was such a relief to have that monkey off my back. The program is okay, but my youngest isn't very happy with it so it has become a have to go situation since I have to teach. Now that it is over I'm not sure if we will return in January. When we started the program 2 years ago it was our only social outlet. Now the kids are involved in so much that the Y tends to be more of a hassle than its worth. So that is one that I am just going to have to wait and see what will happen.

But for now I will take my leave and enjoy my few moments of quite left.

Too busy

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:55:00 +0000

I know I haven't been blogging regularly. To my handful of readers out there I am sorry. I hope things get back to normal after The Nutcracker is over. Just a few more weeks and this whirlwind will be over and then I can stress out about something else, like Christmas lol. Till then don't give up on me, I'm still here.

Feeling better

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Living in cotton country we have a yearly battle of the sinus and crud. This year has been the worst in several years. Starting last week I've had a sore throat, cough, sinus congestion and just felt yucky. It even lead to us missing a day of dance and swim last week, which is unheard of in this house. But, I just felt so terrible I had to take a day and rest. With all this Nutcracker rehearsal there isn't much time to rest. We will dance 7 days this week. And TT has a swim meet this Sat. Thank goodness my hubby will be here to help carry the load.

On a good note I did feel somewhat better to go out on a date with my hubby for our 14th wedding anniversary. We wanted to go away for the night but the kids schedules would not allow for it, but we had fun anyway. Hopefully we can take a short trip for Valentines. Right now it's all about flipping, swimming and school. Oh, and now I have to start Christmas shopping. Geez, when does the list ever end?

Happy Anniversary....

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:42:00 +0000

to me! Today my hubby and I celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. I still have a hard time believing we've been married that long. But, we have and so we must celebrate it. The only problem is he is off somewhere working and here I sit at home. Until a few years ago we never spent an anniversary, birthday or any other holiday or milestone alone, but then one of us has to work. The best part is he will be coming home in a day or two and then we can go out and celebrate, even if it is a day or two late:)

Introducing the 2009 Bon-Bons......

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:57:00 +0000

These are not the entire set of bon bons but they happen to be some of Poogie's best buddies who received their letters the same day she did. Since then one more of her sweet friends has received that precious letter and has joined the cast. So here's the pic of the updated cast. They are such a sweet bunch. This is not the whole group of bon bons just the little ones.

So far the journey into the world of the stage and The Nutcracker has been exciting and very hard work. Poogie not only has 10 classes now, she picked up another advanced acro on Fridays, but also 2 to 3 days of rehearsal a week. That to me is a lot. My fear has been that she would crash and burn. However, the opposite has happened. For example, today we had to get up at 5:30 a.m. to take TT to a swim meet. After the meet we drove straight to the studio for a rehearsal. I thought that would have been enough, but no. I ended up having to make her stop practicing headstands so that we could eat dinner and relax for a little while.

What is hard to deal with is when other parents think you are pushing your child into these situations. That you are making them practice and take tons of classes. That may be the case with some, but that is not how it works in this house. Poogie has taken control and I am just along for the ride. I am constantly asking her if she is okay, does she want a break, is she over doing it. She looks at me like I am crazy and says, "Mom, I love to dance, just leave me alone!" So I do. I think passion is a wonderful thing. It seems to be something that she has in abundance for dance, so I am not going to stand in her way no matter how tired I get of driving her to the studio, of sitting there or of listening to others ask me why am I putting her through all this. I'm sure other parents of passionate children have heard these questions. But, I believe that those that really pursue their passion and excel at it have parents that support them, not hold them back. So here are your wings baby girl, fly!

Dreams do come true!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0000

Today my sweet Poogie received her invitation to be in The Nutcracker production for Christmas 2009!! She will be a Bon-Bon!! This is what she has dreamed about. I don't think the reality of it has hit me yet. But I am so proud of her I feel like I could burst.

We had thought this year would not be it for her. She had to be 8 by Dec. to try out for an angel, and the bon-bons were by special invitation only. She is only 7 so we thought well maybe next year. But she has worked so hard to learn all the advanced tricks to move up to the advanced acrobats class that I guess it paid off. The rehearsal schedule will be demanding and hard but she just told me "So, I can do it." Her best buddy Sweet Pea received an invite to be a bon-bon too! What more could we ask for?? I never knew watching your kids reach their dreams could be so wonderful. Even if it is a dream you might never have wanted, when you look at it through their eyes it becomes your dream too. I don't understand her passion for dance, but I do understand what it is like to have a passion for something. It is a wonderful thing.

Where do you draw the line??

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:20:00 +0000

When you feel that your boundaries have been pushed to the limit? When you know that there is a true threat to you and your family? When you have to choose between the safety of your children and the convenience of others? I know where my line has been drawn and it is not a very popular thing to do.

When you reach the point when you have to say "No, I will will not do...", because it goes against my principles as a parent is not one of the easiest thing to do. But I have reached that point in my current situation where I have had to hold my ground and do what I think is right for my children and our family. It has not been easy, but it makes me sleep better at night knowing that I am doing what is best for my kids.

One of those moments

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:28:00 +0000

This is one of those moments that you just want to stop time so that you can remember what it was like before your first born becomes a teenager. Tomorrow at 10:05 p.m. my sweet first born boy will officially become a gulp, teen!

I just can't believe that 13 years have flow by so quickly. I still remember bringing him home from the hospital, stopping at Target on the way to buy diapers that actually fit his chubby little body. The newborns just didn't work.

It is a little bitter sweet. I don't like the thought of what is to come, but I am enjoying him so much right now I have to say it might be pretty cool. We have a blast together and he has yet to act like a total pain in the butt I remember being at that age, but then I am a girl. And I must admit my sweet Poogie has enough drama for us all!

I know it won't all be roses, but that is fine with me. At least I get to be there and take these steps with him and he doesn't seem to mind. Now if I can only get through tomorrow without crying I will be doing good.

Then again , I can think about next weekend when my house will be taken over by a bunch of hungry, awkward and smelly teenage boys to sleep over to celebrate this blessed event. Nope, still feeling a little weepy.

First USS Swim Meet

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:58:00 +0000

TT had his first USS swim meet this weekend and man was it awesome. He was so nervous, but he ended up swimming great. It was his first time swimming in front of his new coaches and he wanted so badly to do his best.

Saturday he swam both the 50 free and 50 backstroke. He wasn't expecting to place in the top 10 but low and behold he placed 9th in the free and 8th in the backstroke. He swam his best backstroke to date.

Today he swam the 100IM and 50 fly. He started out really good in the IM but the breaststroke was the killer. He ended up getting DQ because his kick motion was not just right. They are very picky and his breaststroke needs a lot of work. In his favorite event the 50 fly he ended up turning in a good time and placed 4th.

What made today even harder was one of the best butterfly swimmers on the planet was watching TT swim. To say it made him nervous was an understatement. Gil Stovall of the US Olympic swim team (he swam the 200fly) was at the meet to help coach the Memphis Tiger Swim Team that was also competing. TT got him to sign his swim cap Saturday and today got him to pose for a quick pic. He was gracious and supportive of all the young swimmers. As I watched him though out the day interacting with the young MTS swimmers I was so overjoyed to see a gifted athlete like him work so well with these up and coming swimmers. So here is the pic of TT and Gil Stovall. What an awesome experience.

Accomplishments

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:57:00 +0000

Today was a day of one great accomplishment. TT finally took his test for his Apologia General Science Module #1. I was wondering if this day would ever come. For those of you who know about his curriculum and this first chapter in particular you know it is a tough one to get through. But, low and behold we did it. He took the test this morning and made a 100%!! I felt like to doing the happy dance, still do! Most of it was due to those wonderful study cards I printed off from the yahoo group. What a wonderful resource that has been.

I was just lazy

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:48:00 +0000

That's right. I was lazy today. I spent most of the day curled up on the couch with my little dog Buffy watching some great movies on the syfy channel about werewolves. I was in heaven. Two of the movies were ones I had never seen. It is not like me to spend any day much less a Saturday on the couch, but I thought what the heck. My hubby and kids were outside doing what they like to to do, so I took some much needed me time.

It also helped that I know our schedule for the next two weeks is going to be just plain crazy. TT has swim meets the next two weekends and every week day we have something on the calendar. So I chilled, and then my hubby even got Mexican takeout for dinner. It really didn't fit into our budget, but man was it worth every penny.

Just a quick thought

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:25:00 +0000

The main question I receive when people find out I homeschool is about socialization. Ug, if they only knew. But now I am beginning to wonder when is enough, enough! I have come to believe that you can have too much socialization. IMO.

Learning as we go

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Beginning the school year with new curriculum is always a learning experience. After 2 and a half years of homeschooling I am still amazed at how long it takes me to learn all the ins and outs of a new curriculum.

Take for example TT's new science curriculum. Apologia General Science. I never thought I was an Apologia person. I had looked at it several times, but since I'm not a fan most Christian science curriculums I always passed on it. Well that was until this year. I finally gave up hope of finding a: 1) inexpensive and decent secular curriculum and 2) a good Christian curriculum that I could afford and liked. I have to say I am so glad we gave Apologia a try.

The first Module has been tough to say the least. Poor TT has been very understanding through all my trial and error. "Write out the summary." "No, write out the study guide." He just smiled and took it. I ended up joining a Yahoo group for Apologia users and it has been so wonderful. First, I found a fill in the blank for the summary. Now, I know it says in the book that the student should write out the summary to help with studying and memory. But to my son it was horrible. The fill in the blank worked wonderful for us. Then I found some great flash cards that followed the study guide. He answers the questions on the cards and then can use them to study. Those were just what we needed. He is flying through the cards. I have to admit the first mod is overwhelming, but he seems to be taking it in stride. Today while discussing some of the answers on the study guide I was amazed at how much he could recall from memory. Now just to get through the test and then we can move on, finally!

We are doing Workboxes!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Yes, I have jumped on the workbox bandwagon! I started using the system with Poogie last week and since it went so well I'm starting TT this week. First I bought Sue Patrick's Workbox book. I am a owners manual type girl, so that was a must. You can purchase it on Sue's website here, or from Amazon. I got mine from Amazon because I needed to order a few other books too.

I had first heard about the workbox system on some blogs I browsed through over the summer. Then, my dear friend, MK, told me she was using them and they were working really well. That sealed the deal. I wanted to try them but was afraid that it would be a waste of time and money, but oh how wrong I was.

The hardest part was buying all the stuff, printing out the cards and such, laminating (I am so thankful I have a little Scotch laminater. It is now my best friend.) With all this off I went to set up my workbox system. I found the shoe rack at Target for under $15. Great buy. And my shoe boxes were $1.02 each at Target. I liked the Target ones over Wally Worlds because they were wider. I needed that extra width for some of our books. Here are our workboxes ready to go for tomorrow. On Tues./ Thurs. we only do 6 or 7 since we have the YMCA in the afternoon. On the other days we do all 12, including some fun activities along with basic subjects.

I found the cutest tags on a great blog, Spell Out Loud, by Maureen. She actually got them from another blogger, Cassie. I loved them. So I printed these instead of Sue's. They are so cute.
Here are our schedule strips. I enjoyed making them to match each child.

I don't know if we will do this forever. It may be a passing fad, but so far we really like it. The system offers a way to organize the day, along with allowing the kids to see their work disappear as they work through the boxes. Have a great week!

Swim Team Banquet

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:26:00 +0000

Last night we got to enjoy the company of our fellow swim team members at the swim team banquet to honor our swimmers for the '08-'09 season. We had a great time visiting with friends and some good food too!

The swim coach from the USA team came to the event, so TT got to meet one of his new coaches for the upcoming season. He is so excited about joining the USA swim team! But he doesn't have to wait long since practice starts Tuesday.

After dinner the kids swim coach, Ms. K, gave out awards for the year. These included ribbons and medals from the Championships in Tunica, to individual awards. TT received two silver medals from Tunica in butterfly and freestyle relay, a fifth place ribbon in backstroke and in freestyle, and a swim trophy. The big honor of the night for TT was receiving the most dedicated swimmer award of the boy swimmers. I was so proud. He was truly dedicated. This is a first for him to give his all in a sport. Here is TT receiving his swim trophy.

Poogie received several ribbons from Tunica, a swim trophy, and the most dedicated award for girl swimmer, too!!! I was overwhelmed to have both of my kids recognized for dedication! You could say I was a very proud momma!

Here is Poogie receiving her swim trophy from her coach, Ms. K. These little trophies were so cute they were bobble headed!

I will post the pick of them getting their dedication trophies when I get them from a friend. I was so excited I forgot to get a picture.

Now all this leads up to a new swim season beginning Tuesday. It will be different swimming USA. TT will train 4 days a week and the meets will be bigger and more intense, but he is looking forward to it. Poogie opted to just do dance. That was fine since she has 7 classes, 3 nights a week.

I plan on spending the rest of the weekend setting up my school room and getting ready for the week to come. Will post more on that later.

Weekend recap

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:51:00 +0000

As unusual I'm sitting here wondering what happened to the weekend. It seems as though you go to sleep on Friday night and poof it is Sunday evening!! We enjoyed the weekend with family and a little work thrown in too.

Friday night we went out to eat and on a shopping hunt for shorts and swim trunks. TT and Poogie needed long shorts for the new dress code at the Y. TT hates wearing the type of shorts they are asking him to wear. The loose basket ball type shorts. But we found him some that he could deal with. Shorts for Poogie on the other hand were harder to find. All that was out there was those super short shorts, super ugly longer shorts or fall cloths. We just found out about the dress code a few weeks ago so it was kind of at a bad time to find them. We ended up buying just a few pairs. The real fight will be when it turns cold. Poogie is not a jogging suit, sweat pants girl. She loves jeans and that is it. I will have to find some middle ground.

Saturday was spent at the farmer's market buying some yummy fresh produce and at a family birthday party. The kids had fun playing with all their cousins and we enjoyed catching up with everybody.

Today we started to work on all our stuff to put in the yard sale. You have no idea how much crap you accumulate over the years until you start going through it all for something like this. I haven't had a yard sale in a few years, but man am I due. Now I am tired so off to bed I go.

2nd Week of School

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:59:00 +0000

We are almost halfway through the second week of school and for the most part everything is going well. Poogie is loving her Saxon math, who would have thought?? TT just hated Saxon in ps, but each child is different. Poogie's hardest subject so far is Bob Jones English. It is a really good program, but much more challenging than her phonics and English last year. The hardest part for her has been getting into the groove with reading again. I have to say this will be the last summer that we do not do any school work. It is just to hard to get started again in the fall. Poogie is like a rusty old wheel turning when it comes to her reading. We just have to find our groove again.

TT is enjoying his new curriculum, especially Teaching Textbooks and Apologia science. Teaching Textbooks is wonderful. Math has always been our dreaded subject, but not anymore. He, like Poogie, want to do math first thing instead of the last dreaded subject of the day.

Science is also one of our favorite subjects. Yes, the first chapter of the Apologia Science is tough, but it is broken down really well and I have given TT some great study supports. The experiments have been so much fun. What is great is that the experiments really support the ideas and concepts in the book. Here is a photo of today's experiment. It was so much fun we did it twice.

Poogie has enjoyed her Bob Jones science. She has been learning about planning and planting a garden, something she loves!

I have to say we have started out the year pretty lax as far as where we do school. Most of Poogie's work is done at the kitchen table or on the couch. TT stays in his room at his desk or on his bed. I have to do so much oral work with Poogie it is hard for him to concentrate while we read and do our lessons.

Here is Poogie in her pj's and her hair all a mess working on her new clipboard, doing her "homework". She wanted homework of all things.

TT enjoyed reading and doing some of his work in his room all comfy on his bed. You see he does have a desk, but he just doesn't like using it. Go figure.

All this leads up to my big announcement! I am getting a school room!!! Picture me doing a happy dance right now. It will be so nice to get all the school stuff out of my little bitty house. Plus, I think the kids will do better without all the distractions of pets, phones, toys and games. I will let you know more as my plan evolves.

Letting go

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:25:00 +0000

For me it has always been hard to live in the moment, to ride by the seat of my pants, or to just let things happen as they happen. I confess I am a planner, an organizing geek. I love to spend hours with my label maker and my clear storage bins. My family probably thinks that if I could I would label them.

I know this leads to my over stressing about things. I turn a little pale at the thought of my daughter's Polly Pockets being put in the bin with the Pet Shop toys. Gasp! Then I came across a quote or a phrase as the blogger called it, "Let go of the day you have planned and enjoy the day you been given". Wow. So simple, yet something I hardly ever think of. I hope to make it my new quote to live by. Something must bring me out of this vicious cycle of planning, stressing, planning, well you get the idea.

Now if I could only get my hubby to listen??

First Day of School!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:26:00 +0000

We made it through the first day of school with flying colors! Poogie was up and ready to go, TT not so much. We all finally got going and actually had some fun. Poogie loves her new math and science. TT enjoyed exploring Teaching Textbooks and his Apologia science.

I still haven't added TT's reading and writing curriculum, but that can be done next week. With everything up in the air about what we will be doing this year for the YMCA and swim I'm taking it slow when it comes to planning to much.

After lessons we went to the homeschool skate party at the rink. It was so nice to catch up with everyone. TT and Poogie got to skate and hang out with all their buds. A great way to end the first day of school.

Day 3 plus...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:24:00 +0000

So far I have had good days and bad when it comes to getting away from caffeine. I did go to the grocery store today to buy some healthy snacks and food for myself. That seems to always help when I am trying to be healthier.

The decaf hot tea has also helped a lot. I love drinking it in the mornings with my mid-morning snack. I just need to work on drinking more water.

This has been a long and trying week. Many things are still up in the air about our schedule for the fall. That drives me crazy, but it isn't something I can do anything about until next week. It all depends on other peoples actions, not mine.

Our lives may pretty much stay the same as last year, or they may change dramatically. I don't mind change I just hate waiting to see what will happen. I'm impatient at times, can't help that.

We are going to ease into school as of Monday. I do have some appointments that will interfere with a full day of school some days, but we will still make a go of it. Poogie starts dance the 17th and that in itself will be challenging. She is taking 8 classes this year and can't wait to start. If it was up to her she would dance all day and the heck with school.

Well off to bed.

Day 2 in my battle to kick my caffeine habit

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:12:00 +0000

I did really good for most of the day as far as caffeine goes. I drank my decaf coffee this morning with a nice cup of caffeine free tea in the mid morning. But I slipped a little at supper this evening. I ended up drinking a total of 3 and a half Diet Cokes in the end.

But based on what I use to consume that is doing quite well. I got really nervous and just grabbed one out of habit during all the storms and stuff this evening. I know that it doesn't help when you're nervous to drink caffeine but I couldn't help it.

One day at a time.

I think I can, I think I can...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:26:00 +0000

I feel like the little engine that could at this moment. I am officially trying to kick the caffeine habit, or I should say the Diet Coke habit. I never really had an issue with caffeine or soda until I had Poogie and started drinking Diet Coke. Now I live on the stuff. I know it is bad for me. It makes me irritable, and my stomach hurt, but I can't stop. That was until my stomach has started hurting all the time. So just as an experiment I limited my caffeine intake to day and surprise it has hurt much, much less. In fact it feels quite good at this moment. It's more of a burning ache instead of hurting but it still doesn't feel good.

Now I'm not going off of it cold turkey. I don't think my kids or hubby would appreciate that, but I am trying to cut way back. I drank some wonderful caffeine free herbal tea this evening and water with dinner!! Yes, water! My body might just be in shock! I will just have to wait and see what the next 24 hours brings but it may get pretty ugly around here;)