Calming

So I am finally beginning to calm down about this whole curriculum thing. J is set, I decided to supplement what she is already doing and replace a few things to make it more at her level. I am also doing a combination of Living Math, Math U See and math games for her math lessons. So far so good.
Today, I finally decided that I've had enough with k12 and will be pulling C out on Monday. He doesn't know this yet and may not want to give up the computer. He'll live. But I am feeling better already. I have been totally stressing about it ever since I realised that he figured out how to "work" their system. About the same time it also hit me that he hasn't been learning anything either. Hopefully I can relax a little bit now and move forward with a little less frustration. (But of course, now I need to figure out what I am going to teach him!)

B'NESS

So, the funniest thing happened yesterday. S was in the car with hubby and I waiting in the drive through line at In-N-Out. Out of nowhere he tells hubby the following:

"Dad, I'm going to get a dog, it will be my dog and my b'ness (ghetto version of business.) It will sleep in my room and no one can play with him except me."

Hubby and I are practically splitting at the seams trying not to laugh at this. S was so serious but the ghetto language was too much. Sadly, hubby wants nothing to with a dog in any size. Maybe with more lines like these S can get him to soften.

Ch-Changes

So a few days ago J decided to cut her hair. This is the shortest cut she has ever had. I have finally stopped looking at her twice when she walks into a room. It actually suits her quite well. It's just that I still have a pang in my heart for the days when she was the age S is and her hair was long and in ringlets. She just looks so grown up now. I know she is growing up and I'm excited but I still miss the little girl. Our parents were all correct when they said it goes by so fast. ~sigh~

Obsessions

Okay I will admit it. I have a problem with planning. As in, I over plan and analyze everything in my life. My favorite obsession is the kids school curriculum. I generally feel fairly justified when a new obsession occurs, but when I can't seem to make a decision I start to wonder if I'm going overboard.
Two things have brought on my latest issue. We'll start with the simple one first. I hate the fact that C is using K12 for his school work. I thought it would be great for him. He still likes it, but it honestly makes me seethe. In the three weeks he has been using it, all he has learned to do is take a test. I am willing to give it some more time to see if my fears are unfounded. After all, I know plenty of other middle schoolers who are using it successfully. It has also been great for his need to have a plan. (A child after my own heart.) But, I just happened to notice the other day that he has figured out how to work their system. This of course puts me in a tail spin because as a homeschooler I want him to learn how to learn, not take a test. So this little issue will have to wait a few weeks for an answer. But my plan is to not allow him to have so much freedom when doing his lessons so I can make sure he's not "working it."
My big issue currently is J's history and science. She has been completing a weeks worth of science in 45 minutes. I know this is an obvious sign that it's too easy for her. She would really like to just do it anyway. She has convinced me that she will just do several weeks in one week then move onto something else later in the year. I am pretty sure that I am fine with this. But to top it off her history is also too easy for her. So of course now I can't stop contemplating if I should continue on with what she has but with supplementation, or return her history and get her the next level up. I went to a friends today who has the next level and she kindly got everything out so I could look it over carefully. Honestly it just confused me more. It would be fine for her, but when I mentioned the change J was rather upset. I'm pretty sure it's because she likes to have things easy. But easy doesn't do her any good.
So tonight shall bring more obsessing and planning. Just maybe I'll have some sort of enlightenment tonight and figure all this out! But knowing me there will be just another obsession around the corner.

Little Shop of Horrors

So as of today my children are all the proud new owners of carnivorous plants. They are soo excited about them. There was a boy a at our homeschool group selling the plants and slowly each of the kids came up asking for money. He must of made half his money today on my family alone!
I only know that the one J bought is a Venus Flytrap. I have spent the afternoon searching for the names of the two the boys bought. Of course neither of them can remember the names either. We decided to keep them outside until we can figure out how to care for them all properly. Luckily the kids have undertaken this big job and are enthusiastic to learn everything they can about them.
So considering I have a black thumb when it comes to gardening, we'll see if these little monsters make it through the week! lol

Back from Nature

Okay, so I'm still getting the hang of this picture thing!
On Sunday, all of us took a lovely hike in the local mountains. It was a very nice walk. All the kids enjoyed themselves and asked to go back to the spot again.

I love being out in nature whenever I can. Sadly, to get to most anywhere around here you need to drive. The one thing which is nearly impossible to get hubby to do on his day off from work. So now I am on quest to find more outdoorsy stuff in our "own backyard." Who knows maybe my inner tree hugger will show herself again.

Speaking of all this nature, C is super excited because he is going to Joshua Tree this weekend to rock climb. He is by far the biggest nature buff among us. I will admit that I'm a little nervous. But hey he'll have a bike helmet so what am I worried about right? (I'll secretly cross my fingers that I won't be the parent who gets a call from the emergency room this trip!)

Are we back in Kansas?

The story of my life these days has been "The Wizard of Oz". S and I are smack in the middle of reading Ozma of Oz and halfway through the Wizard of Oz movie. Ironically, after watching the movie yesterday I met up with some friends who out of no where started singing Follow the Yellow Brickroad. That's gonna stick in my head for weeks. I'm humming it now.

So our first week back to doing "school" went a little bumpy. You know, we went through the poppy field and the mice queen had to save us and all. But like our heroes things are beginning to take shape. For starters, I threw away those darn green glasses to see the Emerald city for what it's really worth. I don't think I'll melt my witch but maybe leave her to her own castle and have the flying monkeys keep watch. My lion even cried when he said good-bye to Glinda (for now.) But the best is watching my three little companions realize the strengths that were always there. I can't wait to see how this year's story unfolds. I'm sure it will be just as exciting as ever. "And that's how we pass the day away, in the merry 'ole land of Oz!"