Why Homeschooling was easier...

So, off to school they go...

Mini P ready for 1st grade!

Monkey...1st grade

Agent P, nervous for 4th grade

After homeschooling Agent P for 3 years (1st-3rd) and the twins for essentially 1 (kinder) because really...preschool is just playing and investigating...right??  
So when a new school opened up out in our district, a K-8 with only 2 classes per grade, we decided to take the plunge now rather than have to be on a wait list. The schools in our district are very full due to their A+ and Excelling status. 

HOWEVER.

Now I have to make 3 lunches, get 3 people to eat breakfast, AND get people to school. On time.

I can tell you all those things are a challenge for me.

Especially when they used to stay in pjs until 10. or 2pm. Everyday.

Their lunch looks like a snack fest, often with no rhyme or reason to it.  I figure it's healthy, who cares what it is exactly.

Monkey takes a hotdog.  That's what he will eat. Who am I to argue?  At least it is nitrite and nitrate free. That's something I'm sure.

Luckily, school starts at 8:20am.  It is a 15 minute drive.  We have, so far, not been late.

By much.

But really tips the balance scale over is after school.

snack. homework. reading. chores. dinner. Who has time for all that??? Certainly not ME!

3 days a week I am now WORKING. WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT?????  

Dinner is a just a pipe dream.

2 nights a week I just leave and go workout.

I am pretty sure that is totally supported by "The Foundation for Women who don't want to cook anyway".  

Sometimes you just have to step away.

But, all in all...they are doing well. They like making new friends. I'm pretty sure that's all 1st graders do all day. 

Agent P apparently is the "All Around All time lunch recess basketball champion" so he says. So, I'm positive that he has adjusted to school life.  That and the fact that his teacher uses incentives like 'classroom money' keeps him engaged...what 9 year old doesn't like the idea of earning money?

Hopefully, I can allocate time for my blog...so we can share our new adventures..

Cheers!

We will now call this meeting to order!!!

Quiet down Supreme Procrastinators, quiet down!

This meeting will now come to order. 

I am here as the President of the Supreme Procrastinators. (Of course, no one came to the meeting...they put it off..again...figures.)

But look, I AM HERE. I know you are wondering what on earth happened. Again.

I do so good for a while, and then I'm not home for so long that I just don't get on the computer enough.

Then I read a book or 5 on my Kindle.

OR watch 1 of the 31 DVR'D shows that I have - some are full seasons that I haven't even begun.

OR I begin a new series on my Amazon Prime and watch THAT on my Kindle. (have you been watching Downton Abbey??)

(notice I have not said "and then I cleaned my house". Just note that for future use).

Anyway. 

Spring is over people. O.V.E.R. OVER. It is stinking hot here. H.O.T. HOT. (I don't really know why I'm spelling words twice. I really need to cut back on the caffeine I think.)

Anyway - here is spring in a nutshell (in absolutely no particular order):

We played soccer - the season is Oct-Feb. And, since we are still in this fiscal year, I'm not too far behind.

Monkey after he scored a goal. Literally, 1 of the only 3 he scored all season because he just doesn't want to actually put in too much effort. We still refer to him as our observer. He was excited yes, but then offered to sit out so that other kids could play.

Formulating a game plan...or discussing snacks. Depends who is talking.

Mini P scored at least 2 goals a game, sometimes 4. She is VERY competitve and does NOT celebrate her goals. Just turns and walks back the other direction, giving out a few high fives. I supposed constant scoring gets old ;)

We met friends at a wonderful park that had a HUGE outdoor covered play area, rated the #1 play area in the area, highly recommended. Only to find out that it was closed because there was an Ostrich Festival that was later that day and the entire park was closed. Gated up and closed.  So what did we do (after walking around the entire thing, begging security to ask if we could just play for a little while, and googling what the heck an Ostrich Festival was...) we googled to find another park close by.

 So we loaded up our crews and found a park that we seriously overran with our schmear of kids ages (from left to right) 8.5,7,6,6,5,5.  AND in theory, we have figured out that either one of us logistically could have birthed them since the are spread so perfectly in age :).  We have also been known to shout  say things in public like "I'm so glad I could help you with your kids today", "what on EARTH are YOUR kids doing?"  That's how you know you have a good friend!


Agent P turned 9. I have to admit. 8 was not my favorite age. 8 is full of attitude and sass. So far, 9 is just as challenging. But, all in all, this kid is very smart and outgoing. He tests the limits of everything. 

What ELSE would you do with a party hat??

I suppose you could make a mohawk..

This was at summer sleep away camp through our church. Agent P was the ONLY elementary age kid (3rd-5th) that got to the top of this climbing wall.

He decided not to play baseball this year, and he did Track and Field. It doesn't matter what he wants to do, as long as he does something that burns off little boy energy!

   

Phew!!!  Look how much I've typed!!! Let's call this part 1.  We can all hope that Part 2 comes soon!!!  

Cheers!

I (or she) fought the law...

(or the rock) and the law (again, the rock) won. I fought the ...well, you know the song right?

Here is the video if you don't know what song I'm talking about...

Or just feel like rockin' out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0sI6eFarFE

Here is a very good example of why you do not toss rocks in the air and attempt to catch them.

Especially if you are Mini P and really can't throw a ball or anything else really. And can't catch. At. All.

And you also don't do it with the next door neighbor who is 1 year older, and obviously can't catch a rock he threw in the air either. Since that is the one Mini P caught with her head.

It really wasn't as bad as it looked....

Apparently the head just likes to bleed to freak out small children :).

Cheers!

Thar he BLOWS!

There are some things that kids should be able to do before they go to college.

I feel that list should include:

1. able to tie own shoes
2. blow ones nose by ones self
3. dress ones self appropriately without mixing two plaids or Hawaiian and plaid or top and bottom the same color
4. use the bathroom alone including wiping and washing
5. and last but not least one should be able to brush ones teeth every day without being told 173 times.

At 6 years and 2 months - Monkey can now successfully do # 4 (amen) and this week has figured out #2 - almost.

Sorta.

Well. He actually blows OUT and that is quite an accomplishment when we are talking about Monkey the sniffer. He has been sniffing most of his life due to all his allergies.

He sleeps with a tissue and I'm rather confident that they multiply because every morning I find about 3 that need to go into the garbage.

So when he caught the cold that is going around - the cough and stuffy nose - I decided to force encourage him to work on this.

I also bribed him with promised him a cupcake from the french bakery that we frequent if he could do this a couple times daily.

And now, he sorta blows out his nose. 

Because he is not above accepting said bribe promise of a cupcake. The cupcakes are quite something and slightly larger than the cookie he is usually allowed to pick out.

As far as shoes - well, he likes flops and slip ons anyway...and I have a few more years to work on the clothing coordination.  But the getting ready for bed thing/brushing teeth...well, I think I need to find more night time activities that take me out of the loop on that one! The kid cannot focus for long and drifts off to build a lego creation.

But as a side note, he is rather good at building Legos...here are his latest creations...

Space station

Meet 'happy Poppy'

and sad Poppy - all you have to do is flip his head...

This week he has watched videos on how to build (and subsequently built) a candy machine, swimming pool, and Lord Business (from the Lego Movie).  As I am typing this, I can hear him at the table putting something together while giving directions to himself as tho he is the one on the YouTube video.  

Did I mention he attempted to make his own video?  Something happened midway thru and all of the sudden he is not in the video anymore, but building somewhere else. I think we need to work on LOCATION of building...or maybe he just needs a film crew!

Why I'm glad I had to plunge the toilet

said no one ever.

Except me.

Which is why it is in my budget to get the Power Max 4 that you can flush 22 golf balls down and it will still have flushing action.

Because who doesn't have 22 golf balls sitting around. That they want in their septic tank? (which for all you city folk, it is a tank for ahem water and whatnot - cuz we live in the sticks and don't have outgoing items.)  

And really, the new toilet is a side story that I'm sure has you sitting on the edge of your seat hoping and praying that we do a YouTube video of removal and install.

Let's just say that what literally pushed me over the edge - to actually beg and plead for a new toilet (by the way, who does that?) was they day that it overflowed. With..um..stuff and it was ALL. OVER. THE. FLOOR.

I know you are wishing I had photos of the clean up, but I'm pretty sure each family member was fearing for their lives and afraid to come near me while I cleaned that up.  I think I may have blocked it all out, due to the traumatic nature of it and all...

Anyway, right after Christmas same said toilet needed to be plunged...cuz a 6 year old used 4 squares of toilet paper.  This toilet and I do NOT see eye to eye on TP usage.  I say 4 squares for a little peep is probably OK..the toilet disagrees.  It gets plugged up if you look at it wrong...pretty sure it has it out for me.

SO, I had to plunge the toilet. Lucky me.

But when I went to get the plunger, I noticed that there was water under the hot water heater in the closet those items are located in.  

The Sherlock Holmes in me deduced that it probably was a bad thing. Google agreed. 

(and for those who know me best, know that if I don't know the answer to a question - which is often - I Google it - the ENTIRE question. Trust me when I say, I'm usually not the first).

So, of course, I touched it - the hot water heater, not the plunger. I was a bit distracted by the water dripping out of the bottom...forming puddles.  Seemed like when I touched it - quite a bit more water started dripping squirting out. So like all good Handy Man types, I touched it again, just to make sure.

Yup.

Still water coming out the bottom.

So, when my sweet husband got home..off to the Big Box we went to get a new hot water heater...and VIOLA! A new one was installed.

Well. Almost.  We spent an hour at the Big Box, called in reinforcements (my parents...one for each of us - my dad to help with the install and my mom to hang with me and tell them they were doing a good job) a few phone calls to some experts and 4 hours later VIOLA!

SO, in the end, it was good that I had to plunge the toilet - which I eventually did - because I did save the family from what could have been days without hot water...

but I still do want the Power Max 4 toilet...sans golf balls.

Top 10 Holiday Celebrations

10.  Halloween - we are starting all the way back here because I am on top of things and never fall behind..ahem..the kids wore costumes from the dress up costumes we have (ones from previous years or given to us).  Monkey doesn't typically like to wear a costume and I have started refusing to buy a special one for him that he won't wear anyway. Hence the t-shirt that says "this t-shirt is my costume".

And Hank. Seriously doesn't understand we are busy...buzz off...he has a rope tugging addiction and thinks everyone who walks out the back door wants to play tug-a-war with him.


9.  A-Dog was inducted into the National Honor Society at school

He works so hard and we are proud of him for taking this step into NHS!


8.  Family Photos. By family I don't mean just our 6. This year we did something totally crazy and off the wall..we did my parents, me and my siblings and all of each of our family...welcome to total chaos.

My parents with kids and spouses..wonder who is watching all the kids....

At one point, during the photo session...there was an eruption of violence..

And then there was a photo bomber...

That little gem on the right is my nephew, cutie pa-tootie, and he was ready for his photo shoot to begin...NOW.:)


7. We hosted our annual family Thanksgiving. There were nearly 50 people - friends and family. Not sure what to do next year? Come here. No one really notices :)  We had Cornhole tournaments and lots of food and drinks...and NO WIND. Not a bad combo!  Plus, it was about 65 degrees or so...

6. We spent the weekend at a local resort for Winter Wonderland!  We did this last year - Winter Wonderland is the same weekend as my sweet husband's Christmas party - and it is at the resort.  We just spend the weekend and the kids LOVE it!  There is sledding, and yes, they have to 'bring in snow'. It was melted in spots by Saturday evening :)

Cookie decorating and eating...

Horse rides (only Mini P did this, as it is her FAVORITE part!)

Plus there was sitting around by the outdoor fire having snacks and drinks and playing with the "fat booth" and "Age booth" apps...and selfies with J and G.  J works with my sweet husband so their family spent the weekend out there as well...Ridiculous FUN!!! :)

PLUS, ya know - a visit by the big guy...

5.  Christmas with the Sibs.  Or, ya know, Christmas with my parents and their kids and their kids..or my parents grandkids.  Let's not complicate it.

4.  Took our annual "stand in front of the Christmas tree" photo and hope everyone looks at the camera at the same time...

"No, Look at ME...EYES OPEN..Ready?"

Really A-Dog? Seriously. He is always the one with his eyes closed in photos.  One more try...

OK that's better.

3.  Dog pile on A-Dog.

Not really a 'celebration', but fun none the less.

2.  Christmas Eve with cousins.

A smaller group this year, but they did not miss out on any fun!  

1.  Christmas Eve church picture.

Because in life, you should always be serious about your picture being taken...

I will leave you with one last picture. I love how our family pic turned out this year...it truly reflects how we feel about raising kids and all the love we have for each other.

Cheers!

Twins are 6

In all fairness, I don't want to favor one child over the other. I mean, what would happen if I posted about a birthday when it actually happened??? It would be unfair!!! Of course...I remind my children regularly, life isn't fair. It's my new motto actually. 

It exhausts me to no end when the younger 3 complain about things like "it was MY turn to (insert dang near anything you want to here...)", "but I wanted to (insert carry, help, open, eat, brush, etc) first, last" WHATEVER. Perpetual dissatisfaction, so I started discussing the unfairness of all things in life.

It's possible I discussed the starving children in 3rd world countries as well.  Because they are.

All that unfairness aside, we can now talk about these two people turning 6! Which was last month...

6.

Holy cow, how did THAT happen??? They say "the days are long and the years are short"

Very true. I have some VVEERRRYYY LLOOOOOOONNNG days.

Let's see, we will do Mini P first since she is the youngest and once in a while should be first...ya know...being fair. LOL. (as a side note, things might be more fair if I actually remembered who did what and could diplomatically choose based on whose turn it was to do said task.- Just sayin')

Mini P, is my little mama!  All I have to do is remind everyone of a rule or task and she will take over from there to enforce it all.  This helps immensely because sometimes I get off track and distracted and forget about things.  She has also been known to enforce punishments that I may have forgotten about as well.

Mini P is competitive. She is also something of a perfectionist. She loves playing soccer and is actually very good. She is determined and has drive to succeed and play well.

And also likes to run with her mouth open apparently.

Mini P loves school and loves to read and do her school work. She is very independent and often will move ahead without Monkey, which is fine with me :).  She reads at about a 3rd grade level and her writing skills are improving every day.  

Here is her Christmas list. I did not help her with any of it. Nor do we plan on getting a fish.  Likely a book she can keep...because in this house, we only have about 400 kids books...not even exaggerating...what's one more?

She is not big on hugging or kissing and often you have to pry it out of her. Once in a blue moon she will volunteer out a hug or kiss and on those days you just thank your lucky stars :).  She is creative and funny and very matter of fact.  She is sweet and often dramatic. I have to hold back the laughter when she is beyond upset and tries to talk when she is crying...no one can understand her and it is hilarious...in a sad and sympathetic way :)


Monkey. Oh my crazy kid.  Monkey is my joking, lovable, huggable, kissable boy. He can also ask questions for 2 hours straight and make this mama crazy.  

Last week when we had to have a suburban towed he asked so many questions..."where does the tow truck driver live? What color is his house? What kind of wheels is on his other trucks? Is he the one fixing the truck? How is he going to drive 2 trucks? Where does he live?" The questions when on and on and on...  Really. I don't have a CLUE what color his house is (and frankly, I actually don't even care!).

Monkey is my observer. He notices things and remembers them. I think this stems from learning to read late, or his observations took up so much space he had no place in his brain for reading. Either way, he notices things most of us wouldn't. Vehicle types, wheel types and who has wheels on their car/truck like that, color of this or that. He even spends time on the soccer field observing...

He recently told me he doesn't like soccer. In fact he doesn't like baseball either. He likes practice, "but games are boring and he doesn't like boring things".  Pssshhh, works for me, then I don't have to pay for it. LOL!  Funny thing is, if he just puts a bit of effort into it, he's good and has actually scored a few goals this year and looked good doing it. But really, we don't care if they play or not, we just open doors for the option. Again, he's an observer and would rather watch.

Monkey is also not much of a techie. Ya know, gamer. Some of his school stuff is on the computer, but given the choice, he'd rather be outside or playing Legos.  The boy LOVES his Legos and is a very imaginative builder. He likes to watch videos and build what they have built.  He is finally reading, and reading a lot. It's like it finally clicked.  For Kinder, at the same time as teaching him phonic words and sight words, he is learning to spell and write them. I don't know why, but that's not how Agent P learned. They focused on reading and then went back to spelling. I think my method for Monkey is what has made the biggest difference. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So there you go - the twins in a nut shell. 

Total opposites really, in so many ways. I can't believe how lucky I am to have twins, they truly are one of my biggest blessings in life, it's like a double blessing - blessed to have them and blessed to experience twins. 

Cheers!