Weekly Update - Midpoint of Winter

We are halfway through our winter session and for the most part things are going smoothly for KM. She is really enjoying the choices that she has made in her lessons. Her skype poetry class is finishing up next week and although she is really anxious about her critical analysis essay, she is fully enjoying the class. She is working hard to complete her French by the end of the session, as she would like to move on to Japanese, but wants to finish this book first. She has also started researching cosmetology schools and what it will take to become a cosmetologist. We have started in on the "animal" section in biology and have started our ant observations - check out the page where we are chronicling our discoveries! She is also practicing for the World Education Games and can't wait until the Science practice opens next week.

DN on the other hand - not quite so smooth. He is fully and completely compliant, but I am having a very difficult time getting him to truly understand that learning is part of life. Not something that you just "get done." That is what school is about right - but that is NOT what education is. I am trying to be patient and keep things in perspective as I know that it has only been a few months, but it gets really difficult when I am bending and twisting and feeling like there is no appreciation of the lengths that I am going to. I have to remind myself that hindsight is most effective and the fruits of my labor might just take a bit longer to ripen than I would like.

For a sneak peek of our first day with the ants check out our montage ---

Oh and KM's room makeover is complete ---- 

The green looks a bit more yellow in the pics, but you get the gist of it and KM LOVES IT!!! She was so over all the pink! 

Weekly Update - Busy Busy

We had a busy one this week! I picked CJ and DN up on Sunday and we went full throttle from the get go! KM and I had started prepping her room for the big remodel to start on Monday and CJ took some time to prep the walls. He got both coats on the green walls completed and KM is super excited to get the purple walls done in a few weeks. Since CJ is only home two days each week he has to work in stages on this project and will be taking a week off in between so that we can do something else.

While CJ was painting on Monday KM, DN and I got down to work getting lessons done. For part of our history unit on colonial days we made bread and butter - both from scratch - and I didn't even let the kids use the KitchenAid - KM thought this was a bit drastic and DN was shocked that it took us nearly 5 hours to get a loaf of bread. KM brought up the fact that if we had been making it back then it would have taken even longer because the wheat would have had to been ground, the milk gathered and separated from the cows, etc. So even though we were doing it the "old fashioned" way we were still taking advantage of modern conveniences to do so - GREAT POINT!!! We finished prepping and getting ready for the Journey North Mystery Class which will begin next Monday and played Shopping Spree from the What's Your Angle Scholastic Math Games Resource. We also finished up a game of Trivial Pursuit Junior from the night before.

Tuesday the kids got some lessons done in the morning and then we headed to ice skating before we had to bring CJ back to work. I was really glad that we all had a chance to get back on the ice, especially with CJ with us. When we got back KM had just enough time to finish up her poetry for her skype class on Wed, before we had to get her to her friends for youth group. DN and I replaced a blown taillight on my car and had had a follow up conversation in regards to his interest in the armed forces, as he had not read either of the books that he had chosen from the library while he was at home. He disclosed that he feels as though the only reason he had any interest in the military was to impress his brothers and that it really isn't something he is interested in, so we are back at square one with no interest in anything. Not really sure where to go with this beyond keeping up with the core subjects to see if something inspires or intrigues him.

DN worked on some Manga High challenges, while KM finished some history Wednesday morning before her Poetry class and then we headed off to host a teen bowling event. The kids had a great time bowling and though it was a smaller group - 9 kids - it was totally worth it for me to set it up! After dinner I brought DN to swap back and ran some errands while KM finished up her lessons for the day.

KM and I went to see Joyful Noise Thursday. KM really enjoyed it and I was surprised at well it was done. There were a few bits that I just didn't get, but all and all it was worth the matinee. When we came home KM enjoyed her new walls while finishing up some biology.
Friday is going to be a nice quiet down day, exactly what I need to end this whirlwind of a week.

Another Camper Update

In the little bits of spare time CJ has had lately, he has been trying to get the camper finished. There have been some vast improvements from it's original state...

From the new LARGE sink to the fresh coat of paint and tiles it feels like a new space. I have to finish up the cushions and curtains and he needs to finish up a few odds and ends and we will be ready to go...where I don't know, but I am sure it will be an adventure.

Update on Camper Project

I got an email this morning from a long time reader that was wondering how our camper remodeling project has been going as I had not updated on it quiet a while. It is ironic as CJ went to Lowes last night to get the floor tiles -

KM hasn't been able to help with the project as much as we hoped as she was having issues with the dust and dirt agitating her asthma, but we are almost to a point that she can start helping again. On the exterior CJ has removed the awning, caulked all the seams and seal coated the roof as there were a LOT of leaks. After he was sure the leaks were sealed he was able to reinforce and straighten the outer walls. He removed all the 70s orange shag rug and will be working on painting the interior before installing the floor tiles. Once it is all painted and the floor is in, we will be reinstalling the refrigerator and installing the larger sink where the stove was - we NEVER used the stove when we camped - except for more storage, so I felt the bigger sink would be wiser use of the space. The last and most daunting area will be the bathroom. We are hoping to be able to salvage the shower and sink unit and just have to get a new toilet as the bathroom units are rather pricey.

I will be sure to post pictures once the painting is done, I really think that is going to make such a huge difference!

Lights, Lights, Lights...

So I know I mentioned that we weren't going to be doing any inside remodeling this season because we were going to be working on the camper, but on a recent trip to a supply store CJ got a different idea. He decided that we needed to "update" some of the lighting fixtures, so he has spent the weekend swapping them inside and out...

New motion sensored ones for outside.

A more modern look for the TV room.

And finally a brighter, more efficient style int he kitchen!

Extra Quiet Week...update...

...and I have gotten some concerned emails. It has been very quiet around here as we took the week off. We have been fiddling around and trying to wind down from the CRAZY HECTIC autumn schedule before we gear up for our TOTAL WHIRLWIND of holiday events. Since I am here I could share a few pics that I hadn't gotten a chance to yet...

First these are some pics from the Lego League Competition last weekend. Team didn't do so great, but they had fun and it was quite and experience for them!



CJ had a slow work week because of the rain, so he started tearing apart the camper ----


He took the fridge and the mirror vanity out of the bathroom, which dropped a ton of pine needles out of it. We are trying to figure out if the fridge works or if we need to replace and we WILL be replacing the toilet and possibly the sink in the bathroom. He also started trying to figure out the piping so that he can take the stove out and replace it with a full size sink.

A little space...

for the little learner.

We have an area, off the kitchen, just outside the laundry area and in between the playroom and KM's bedroom, that has always been a bit useless. Until today when CJ took an extra piece of the new counter from the kitchen and made a little desk/shelf out of it.


It is just the right height to rest the laundry basket on
or for SC to pull her stool up to and do some coloring.

The paint is on the walls...

but none of us are really sure that we like it!
Luckily the painter lives here - hehe - and is amongst those unsure of the color!

Though the pictures don't really do the shade any justice - I must say that we (KM & I) did not have nice words for the color when we walked in the door. I did not pick it in the first place, but I am also one of those people that has to get used to all color changes - except for the purplish shades of course.
We will have to wait and see, in about a week, what the final decision will be.

Almost there -

Things have finally gotten back to a bit of a more normal rhythm around here, so I should be back to more of the usual "homeschooly" postings that are normally around here.

We will be using a lot of the leftover and extra construction materials and packaging for some really cool art and science projects so I will be sure to share those as they happen!

Thanks to all who have been patiently stopping by during this slow blogging, but chaotic family time!!!

YIPPEEE - I have running water!

I woke up this morning to a nearly completed kitchen.
I LOVE my new sink...

and the stove is WONDERFUL.
I am dealing with the shortened counter on the opposite wall.

And will post the final pictures once my painter (CJ of course) has finished.

Still No Water....

They really are making some progress

and I really can't complain as they are the cheapest labor around...as they will be paid in baked goods once the kitchen is actually usable!

But I would like my table back, as well as running water in my kitchen.
I know in the end it will be worth it.
I can see the light...

Simple Requests...

All I really wanted was a new stove, but somehow - in this house - small requests turn into HUGE projects! We have been here for nearly six years now, but we are still amazed at how well the man we bought the house from hid all the faults that we have found along the way.

When we decided to replace the cabinets, the counter top, sink and stove we never thought that the plumbing would be the biggest issue or that there would be a HUGE gaping hole in the wall which of course is the cause of the draft in the kitchen.

Luckily we have a wonderful neighbor - who also happens to be a general contractor - who will be here this evening to help us - meaning CJ of course!!!

I promise I will update upon completion!!!

Week in Review!!

Lots went on this week...

here are some pics!First day of coop - busy busy!

A day with my nieces! OR will be 2 in about 2 weeks and SC is 16 mo.
They had a great afternoon playing together

Then my brother got home from school and all h@@@ broke loose!

SC learned how to use the stool to help with the dishwasher...
she has been fascinated by it since she could crawl -
don't know why, but I am not going to complain!

CJ had Monday off due to rain, so he had time to make an awesome gate
to keep the dogs off and SC on the back porch!
This will help with my sis's fears a bit!
(not of the dogs, but of SC running around the house and out into the street!)

Since it has been so wet in the mornings we also decided to put the house on the deck for the season, this way it will dry quicker and we won't have to deal with the soaking wet grass in the morning either.

Although our trip to the zoo started off with a bang...
or it was more of a crash really...
none of us were hurt and KM and I got some great shots of the animals.
The gorillas come right up to the windows and start posing as soon as they see flashes going off!

KM took this one of the wildebeest.
I absolutely love the lighting through the trees!
When we came out of the gift shop this peacock was just strolling around.
The leopards were a bit tricky to get and I am surprised, due to the lighting that these came out at all.
I had to share this one because we never knew that the giraffe's had to spread their legs like this in order to eat from the ground.

So my thoroughly exhausting week is over and done with - nearly, of course MC will be over in a bit to take KM out to get her nails done and go for dinner (part of her bday present), so CJ and I will be going out to eat as well, I still have to go to the insurance inspectors tomorrow to have pics taken of the car, we never got to our election studies or music theory for this week so we will have to do catch up on those tomorrow, KM has her best friend sleeping over for the weekend, I have lesson plans to get done for next week,.... and about 50 other things I can think of off the top of my head - does it ever really stop? Does the "To Do" list ever really get completely finished?

Well, none the less, I will be taking it at a bit of a slower pace as we will be down a vehicle and since CJ's truck is still in the body shop from his accident last month, we will actually only have one drivable car! We haven't had this happen for years! Oh well things happen for a reason. I am most thankful that there were no injuries and we have insurance to cover everything. KM's only concern after the accident was whether we were going to still get to go to the zoo! Gotta love the minds of kids!