A Day in the Life

Liana asked me the other day if I would teach her how to write in Curtsy. When I was telling my dad about that later, she indignantly piped up, "Mama, I meant CURTSIES writing!" oh, ok. I have no doubt that she will have curtsy writing very soon. ;O)

Our computer recently C-R-A-S-H-E-D. Good thing my hubby is a computer guru (I didn't use the word "geek," but just between me and you...) ;o) He salvaged my pictures and documents after a few days of staying up Way Late and trying to find them and extract them, or whatever he had to do to get them. I was *very* distraught at the thought of losing my digital pics and videos from the last year. I didn't cry too hard, but you know, that's just a horrible feeling. I had many, many pics burned onto disks, but my videos weren't, and it made me rather Ill.

So, after he found them and saved them, I sat and watched video after video of the last year. I noticed that I had taken individual videos of the kids a year ago this week, and so this week, it is my mission to take videos of the kids talking about the same subjects "a year later." It's amazing to see/hear how far the kids have come in a year. I cried more than a few times listening to how much their accents have faded (Leksa no longer says things are blue-tiful *waaa*)

School has been going smoothe as silk now that the holidays are well behind us. Our morning routines have been going off without a hitch, and it really sets the tone for the rest of the day. I wake up before the kids, and if I wake them up myself, they "remember" their routine lots better than if I let them sleep til they're done. They wake up wild - completly reveling in their "freedom" otherwise. Not cool. They almost inevitably wind up in trouble over something or other... Playing too rough and hurting someone, etc. They are still at the point where they need structure and routine *badly.* I get up at 6:30, either shower then, or sometimes I shower before bedtime at night, then I have my morning quiet time/tea/computer time. John gets up at 7:00, takes his shower, gets ready, and before he leaves for work, I make his lunch. I wake the kids up either right as John leaves, or a few minutes before. Adam takes his shower, gets dressed, makes his bed, etc., while the girls get dressed and make their beds. (It takes the girls as long to get dressed and make their beds as it does for Adam to shower PLUS do all of that. They're putzers and often need reminding of what they're doing. (They're getting better, however). While everyone is getting ready, I make my own bed and get dressed, plus set the breakfast table, and then sneak in as much more computer time as I can before everyone is ready to go. About every other day, I use this time to go on a house-cleaning kick. Bathroom germies are freaky to me, so I usually clean the kids' bathroom every other day at least. Since cold/flu season have hit, we've been Lysoling the door knobs, etc. too. The kids also straighten their rooms up after they are dressed. (Those are usually just fine from the previous day's pick-up). Then breakfast. We're usually done by 9:00 or 9:30, and then start in on school.

We have school time divided into two parts. Half is the seat work, which is their language, math, handwriting workbooks, "thinking skills" books, oral reading, plus a log they keep for their Patch Club. Then the "Book Time" is our our read-alouds, science, history, lit/poetry books, etc. During their seat-work time, I like to haul out the sewing machine (when it is working!), or baking/cooking up something, or do some more cleaning or computing.

This week we've been having lots of fun reading Greek history (I confess, I'm as much as a geek as my hubby; just in different areas!) I love history/lit - we've read about the Trojan War this week, and the kids have been at the edge of their seats hearing about the soldiers hiding inside the wooden horse, and wondering if they would be able to steal Menalaus' wife back away from Paris. Yesterday we read about the Cyclops and how Odysseus got away from him. It has been fun to have the kids tell John what they learned each day.

In science this week, we've read about the difference between rockets and space shuttles, and how astronauts work in space. Fun talks about floating food as they try to eat, etc. We've also been learning about things under the sea. Today we talked about how people drill for oil under the sea. Yesterday it was about how trains can go under water in tunnels, like the train between England and France under the English Channel. Tomorrow (and every other Friday after this), Grandpa Fisher is coming to do some experiments with the kids. I and another lady from church have lassoed him into doing this for me so I don't have to think about it each week. The kids are going to love it. (Grandpa taught math and science for years and years before changing jobs).

Let's see, what else... Lunch is in there too. We usually eat it late (like 1:00 some days). We're usually all done with school by 2:30. We also have been sneaking in a 10 minute exercise routine too. We all do jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, marching, "the bicycle," etc. It's a fun time of giggling, huffing and puffing. Plus, it is a more structured time of getting the wiggles out.

Oh, I should add some of the things that help our morning go more smoothly. I try to fill the kitchen sink with hot water/soap and then when we are all done with our dishes for breakfast/lunch, we each wash our own dish. We always use paper plates for lunch. Adam sweeps after lunch, the kids alternate who wipes the table after meals, and I usually sweep before breakfast (I'm a floor-crumb phobic, but you'd never know it from looking at my floor!)

After school, we quick straighten the house again and vacuum. While the two older kids are doing all their seatwork, Leks has been playing, and usually tornado-izing her room. That gets picked up before she can play outside. Sometimes we do a little "quiet time" where they sit in their rooms with a book for 20 minutes or so, but lately that has only been on terribly wiggly and screamy days. I start supper at 4:00, or at least look to make sure I'll be done with it by the time John comes home. Sometimes I have to start earlier. I do menus for a month at a time, so there isn't any mad-scramble to figure out what is in the cupboards/freezer. Makes my life lots easier, and takes the sting out of the whole "supper-time" thing. The girls often like to help making supper, but if the weather permits, everyone likes to play outside.

John comes home by 5:30-5:45. That's the loudest time fo the day, because John walks in the door playing and wresting each of the kiddos. Lots of giggles and screaming while I cook supper. At supper, Leksa's job is to get vitamins and "fish pills" for everyone. Liana gets the napkins (I always forget those). The kids and I take turns doing dishes while John unwinds after work. I sweep the floor again, and make sure I'll feel good about waking up to "this kitchen" in the morning. (I hate waking up to a messy kitchen/livingroom). Then, bathtime for the girls, more play time with Papa, (sometimes a video), then we have a family devotion time, then the kids go to bed by 8:30 - 8:45.

We try to stick to that routine as much as possible, but once a week we go to my Dad's house in the morning to visit. I also make him/us breakfast, so I know dear old Dad is getting a hot breakfast at least once a week. Otherwise, it's the same old Rice Krispies with peaches every day for him. These are also the days that if we need to shop for him/us, go to the bank, do any other errands, etc., we can do them too. We're home by lunch, and then we just do our school in the afternoons instead of mornings/early afternoons. The days we do our "Cooking Day" at Dad's, we have distributed that days' school work through the other days that week, so we don't get behind. We only do that once every 5-6 weeks, so it's no big deal. Saturdays are our Library Days, because John likes to get a book for himself also. We also check out a video or two to watch during the week. We hardly ever just turn the tv to veg... There is way too much to do to make the Routine work, plus, it is a giant brain-drain on everyone. The kids love to watch videos, but it is just as good to play "pretend" games with each other building forts with blankets, playing in Adam's tent, or burning off some energy outside.

Not sure why I wanted to post our routine on here, but I guess I just thought maybe it would be helpful to someone, somehow, and to show how cool homeschooling can be; what great stuff you can learn right along with your kiddos, and how that structure/routine "looks" during a day in the life of a homeschool family. All the while, all our heartstrings are tightened around each other, and we have all learned to be responsible, diligent, trusting, loving, and to have all kinds of fun in the process. Someone asked me recently what I do for fun. I told her my life was my fun. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in the wide world!

Rough Day Sunday

I've been meaning all week to blog about Sunday night. I'm still shaking my head over it.

The kids are in a "kids' club" at church that sings for the congregation like once every 6-8 weeks or so. Sunday night was The Night. So, I needed to get the kids to church a half hour before the service started at 6:00. No prob. We can be there by 5:30, no sweat. I thought. John was at choir practice already, so it was all up to me to get us there in time. Well, about 5:00, the kids were goofing around, and Liana comes out of her room and says, "Mama, I didn't do it on purpose this time." And points to her hair. More specifically, she pointed to the GUM in her hair. Gum which she had already been trying to get out. In other words, it was matted in there really badly.

Freak Out Time for Mama. I quickly slathered on the peanutbutter, and started picking it out. I am not real happy about right then, but she didn't do it on purpose, so whaddaya do? Well, there obviously wasn't time to wash her hair, so I tell her that she has to wear her hair up so her hat (it's a sailor hat which all the clubbers wear) will cover it. She would be ok as long as she left the hat on.

Got the gum out, but Liana does NOT like her hair up this way. She starts crying and wailing. And, she can't find her skirt. And when she finds it, she doesn't want to wear the tights I picked for her. So, she cries and wails some more.

My nerves are shot by then. I ordered the other two out to the car, and suddenly, I realize I have No Idea in the wide world where my car keys are. I frantically dump out my purse, peruse the kitchen, the livingroom, all my favorite "dumping points" and can't find them. I'm really panicked by then, but I did find them in a bag I'd used the day before. I'm actually perspiring by then...

So, Liana is still crying in the bathroom getting dressed. She's hating her hair and her outfit, (boy am I going to have fun with her when she really IS into that stuff!) (OY) Suddenly, Aleksa starts screaming outside. I just can't handle it. Why is nothing going right all of a sudden?! From what I could understand, she hurt her ear outside. Ok, no blood; she'll probably live. I don't give her a whole lot of sympathy, to be real honest. I'm just wanting to pull out of the driveway Right Now.

So, Liana finally comes out of the bathroom and we leave. Both girls still crying, and Adam is Ticked Off, which is a usual if his sisters are hurt or crying about something. He gets mad at me when they are upset. (Which makes me CRAZY and it sure didn't help what I was already feeling at that point!) (I DIDN'T DO IT, ADAM!)

Anyway, I don't know how we did it, but we pulled up into the church parking lot right on time. Everyone is in Quite a Mood, but we're there.

Everyone sang like angels (WhatEver!), and alls well that ends well. Right?

Ready for the icing on the cake though? I found out the next day that Aleksa's sore ear was caused from (ready for this?), she had shut the car door on her ear! HOW DID SHE DO THAT? Her ear is actually quite bruised from it! I can't even imagine how she had her head positioned *at all* or WHY it would have been positioned in such a way, or WHY she shut it on HERSELF, but sure enough, Adam saw it, and Leksa felt it. Her ear got slammed in the car door. I wouldn't have believed it, but that little ear is black and blue...

Calgon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flying Fishy!

We had a wild morning over here. Adam put his nightstand/end table/plant stand/not-sure-what-to-call-it up on end against his bedroom door and when I barged in to see what was going on, the table crashed down onto the fish tank which was on Susie's cage, and Bubbles the Fish went flying through the air. He lived. You can't kill a beta fish, evidently.

Never a dull moment over here! *groan*

17 Months Home

Boy has this been a busy winter! I have a stack of unsent Christmas cards that I have no idea what to do with. Do I send out Valentines this year, I wonder? lol! It makes me sick that I never sent them - I was lacking stamps so long, finally bought them, and then they up and changed how much it costs to send a letter! Any advice what I should do? Keep them all 'til next year? I'm feeling majorly guilty over it!

Adam has been making big strides in math. Suddenly, he's understanding math concepts (like multiplication) after just one afternoon of informally explaining it to him. He has been getting only one or two wrong on a page of math instead of him kicking and screaming to just sit down with the book open in front of him. I think he's also made some good strides in his attachment to us this month - though we did have a few rocky days in there too. He's been really good about getting right to work with his school stuff, though his very least favorite thing in the wide world is reading out loud. He can do pages of his language workbook without getting anything wrong, but oral reading is really, really hard for him. He has very little confidence, and he sounds out each letter as a crutch to "getting" the word -even the short-vowel, three-letter words. But, we continue to plug away. Adam is using better sentences now, though we are still having to remind him to say things the right way. He is just now finally using "is/do" occasionally without being reminded. He's made big strides even this month, though articulation is still tough on some sounds, (r's are killers for him), and he often rushes through words instead of sounding them out the right way - which he can do if reminded to slow down. For instance, instead of saying to his sisters, "Get out of here!" He'll often say, "Ge-yout here!" I've caught myself asking him to say "Get out of here" better... It just seemed wrong! lol! I've already talked about how girl crazy he is, so I won't go there again, but UFF, are we going to have our hands full with this guy!

Liana is really EXTRA cruising with math. She has been doing her math without getting anything wrong, and quickly memorizing her facts. As with Adam, reading aloud is tough for her, but it comes a little easier for her than Adam. It's work, so she doesn't enjoy it. She reads a lot more fluently than Adam does, however, she just really doesn't enjoy it and gets easily frustrated. I've been having her and Adam take turns reading paragraphs in their readers. It seems less intimidating to both of them to know that they won't have to read the ENTIRE page by themselves. I've also found that it is good for them to have a little peer pressure, and to be helping each other sound out words. (They both enjoy being in charge of the other, so they get a kick out of "teaching" their sibling).

Liana's articulation is getting better and better all the time, and she can finally say her "r's" well. She really has a great vocabulary and expresses herself really well. Except for a slight accent, she doesn't have any language "handicaps" except an occassional lack of a vocabulary word. (The word "blaze" was in her language book the other day, and she had no idea what it was.)

Aleksa, however, has dropped my jaw more than once this month. The little sneak has taught herself to read and is constantly sounding out words, and we're constantly hearing a *loud* Aleksa excitedly screaming whatever word she's just deciphered. She's figured out blends and everything. A few weeks ago as I was reminding Liana that "igh" said "I," Aleksa read the word "right" over her sister's shoulder. On top of that, she's also started writing down words by sounding them out. She's better at "a" vowel words, but I'm amazed that she can do it at all at this point! It really seems like she wakes up in the morning knowing stuff. The lights just either seem off or on for her, and she's flipped a TON of switches on this month. I had had no idea that she was that ready to read until she just up and started reading. (It just too bad it doesn't come as easily for the other two!) She's also been working on learning to write her numbers. She just today learned to write the 0,1,2,4 and 7. She has also been sitting in on all the science, history and read-alouds for school (her choice). For fun we've all been reading the Little House on the Prairie books, and we're almost through the second book. I had wondered how much was actually "sticking" with Aleksa, who has also been sitting in for those too. She now goes through the house with her dolly calling it "Baby Carrie," and calling Adam "Pa" and talking about the wolves and indians outside. I love that the stories we've been reading have carried over to play-time fun!

Adam's birthday was on Saturday. We have a big 11 year old now! We made him a loft bed for his birthday, which he loves, but it sure makes tuck-in time a lot more difficult! Last night John had to throw me up on his bed, and then catch me as I rolled off. It amused Adam lots, so I guess the extra effort was worth it!

In other words, things are going well for us, with a few minor struggles here and there. Not a whole lot different than the rest of the world, I guess!

Near Tragedy

On the way home from taking my dad to the doctor yesterday, a garbage truck that was just ahead of us in the other lane hit the top of his truck on the bottom of the overpass and blew the hydraulic fluid line. It instantly blew alllllllll over the highway, which included all over my windshield and windows. Couldn't see *anything* and I really had to fight for control for a few *long* seconds. There were no other cars on the road around us, or I know I would have hit them. I could hardly see where the side of the road was - Dad actually had to tell me where it was. The more I wiped the windows, the more I couldn't see. It was horrible. Especially since I had absolutely no idea what happened until after I finally pulled over and asked the garbage man what he did to me! lol! The poor guy had no cellphone and of course mine was home recharging on the dresser.... *grrrr* I got to call the cops and the guy's boss to fill them in. Firetrucks had to come and hose down the highway, and everything. Such excitement. It really could have been bad, but thankfully we had no ice, no traffic, and lots of guardian angels hanging around today.

I told Dad he needed to give me his Milky Way though, so if I got in another accident on the way home, at least I would die with a happy tummy. ;O)

Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Ya know what? It's Ukrainian Christmas Eve today! I didn't go too crazy with all the cooking for it (as Kendra pointed out on her blog, Ukrainian food is back-breaking food to make!) I found a few simple recipes, and just talked it up.

I was feeling bad about not having ordered anything from Yevshan for the kids for Ukie Christmas. (Yevshan is an *awesome* Ukrainian gift store. Do a Google search and you'll find it.) I drool over this catalog! Anyway, I'd love to pick out something from it for the kids each year, but well, you know, things just happen, and life doesn't always turn out the way we want!

Well, this afternoon the mailman brought a package from one of my blog buddies full of Ukie stuff! I just couldn't believe it! The girls each got beautiful dolls dressed in the traditional folk dresses, and Adam got a carved wooden plate with the Ukrainian crest on it (is it called a tryzub?) Anyway, all three kids L-O-V-E-D them, and it really was the icing on the cake today. Adam's plate is proudly hung on the wall, and the girls' dollies have been cuddled, spun and danced with all the rest of the day.

But! The very best thing was for me. Inside this package was a bag of sunflower seeds straight from Ukraine!!! I'm *SOOOOO* excited! Ever since our trip, I regretted not buying some sunflower seeds, and this sweetheart of a lady picked some up for me on her own trip to Ukraine! How awesome is THAT?

Anyway, it was really neat that the package came right in time for Ukrainian Christmas. I loved, loved, loved it!

Srozhdestvom Kristovym everyone!

PS OOPS, Forgot to say...

Ya know, when I was typing up the last post about the weekend, I knew I was forgetting something big, and I just now remembered what it was. Definitely blog-worthy too!

As we were packing the car to head to Grandma's, guess what we forgot? We sorta spaced out putting the kids' suitcase (the enormous duffle bag we brought with us to Ukraine!), into the car. So, when we got to Grandmas and it was time for jammies, we realized, OOPS, no clothes for the kids. Not a stitch. (Ya know, I wondered why we had so much room in our trunk! lol!) *GROAN* When we packed to come HOME from our trip over Thanksgiving, we left stuff THERE. Now we forgot things altogether. We're still rather green when it comes to packing for a family of five!

Sooo, Grandpa to the rescue! He gave us some $$ to go to GoodWill/Salvation Army/Walmart and pick up what we would need for the weekend. (Ain't he a sweetie?) We actually got some really nice stuff!

While we were at Good Will, I spyed a hot-pink formal dress with gazillions of sequins (how do you spell that, it doesn't look right!) I instantly thought of the girls - they're WAY into dress-up clothes right now. So, for just a few bucks, I bought a pure silk dress that is every little girl's DREAM. Bright, sparkly, pink, and completely hurt-your-teeth gaudy.

On the way home, I realized that the dress was actually my size. So, that got me thinkin'... Wouldn't it be funny to play a little joke on my poor hubby? Yup, I decided it would.

So, when we got back to Grandma's, I told John that I had found the *perfect* dress for the Valentine banquet at church, and I offered to try it on for him. Well, I did, and wouldn't ya know, he was very polite and whistled at me instead of wrinkling his nose and forbidding me to leave the house. The girls ooed and aahed over the pretty dress. Liana noticed though, that the back was a bit too "open" and she could see my "leefchick" strap. She was rather shocked at me and stood there holding it shut so nobody could see. (Leave it to Liana to say what she thinks!) ;O) So, I very seriously said to her, "Hmmm, well, maybe you're right Liana. Maybe I shouldn't wear this dress. What do you think?" She very gravely agreed with me. "So, maybe since I can't wear it, maybe you and your sister would have fun playing dress-up with it instead?"

Instant squeals of excitement! And John looked very visibly relieved. "You had me worried there for a minute," he said. (I'm so naughty! tee-hee!)

New Year Weekend

Well, I think I'm officially worn out. And getting *another* cold too. Christmas was wonderful this year, and I'm feeling it! lol!

We headed up north to John's grandparents' house for the New Year weekend, (Thursday-Sunday). It was the longest we've ever been away from home with the kids. I had wondered how they'd do, but they held up pretty well. By Sunday afternoon, they were ready to let some wiggles out, and had to be asked to calm down, quit yelling, etc. But, it was all basic kid stuff, I think.

One of John's cousins was there on Saturday. She is rather beautiful, and our Adam went ga-ga over her. (Which inspired a *very serious* Father-son chit-chat on the way home about how we don't touch girls we aren't married to.) Adam was touching her feet, legs, trying to hold her hand under the table, telling her she was beautiful, and pretty much giving this lady the heebie-jeebies. And I don't blame her! lol! Adam has become quite the Casanova lately, and he's Just Gotta Knock It Off. He's been asking to call girls, has written an "I love you" note to a girl from church, and pretty much has gone all girl-crazy. And it is Frightening me! lol! Adam really is a toucher, and I have no doubt that his hands are going to get himself in big trouble some day soon. Touch is really Adam's love-language, and boy does he like to cash in. He's constantly hugging and touching everyone... Me, John, grandparents, cousins, friends, strangers... I myself am *not* a touchy-type, so it even creeps ME out sometimes. He's in my body bubble a lot, and I've really been challenged to shrink that bubble down since he's come home! lol!

Anyway, the kids put on a tea party for their grandma Fisher, and great-grandparents (and the knock-out cousin too!) (You'll never guess who sat next to her...) ;O) Great-grandma got down some tea-cups and saucers which were her wedding gifts to make up for everyone (we only have four cups with the kids' set).

Adam helped the Guys bring in firewood for Great-grandpa (he burns wood in the winter), and also did quite a bit of shoveling. John and his dad shoveled the snow off the roof. I was Chief Dishwasher, and the girls pretty much just chased the dog, each other, or anyone else around. lol!

They have an absolute dream house. The set up is wonderful; nothing fancy, just very homey, but their location is perfect. It is a cozy house nestled way off the road into the woods. There are tall pines all around in their yard, but the yard isn't bordered by a fence - it is bordered by dense Northern Minnesota woods. You look out any window in their house and you'd think you were miles away from civilization. Complete privacy. The truth of the matter is that just down the highway from their house, they have a SuperWalmart. I mean just a few blocks away. Like a one minute drive. It's the best of both the city and country right in one little spot! It's wonderful. We always come home from "Grandma's" very well fed (she's an awesome Norwegian cook!), and feeling like we've been on vacation. Hard to leave, in other words.

Which brings us to our actual trip home. Everyone was a bit melancholy having to leave, and the girls were cranky. Liana was particularly bear-like. Finally, after a talking-to from Papa, she started crying. If she were 13, I'd call her hormonal - "I need to cry just because!" Well, John decided to pull over and give the girl a big hug. The next thing we knew, a woman pulled over to find out if something was wrong - (I guess she doesn't see people hugging on the side of the road very often? lol!) When John told her nothing was wrong, that his daughter just needed a hug, she tilted her head, sorta said, "awwww," smiled, and got back into her car.

Not 30 seconds after John and Liana got re-buckled and we took off again, Aleksa burst into tears too. *sigh*

He didn't pull over this time, but he did hold her hand for a few minutes. Such a sneak preview into what things will be like at the Fisher House in about 8 years when we have me, Liana at 15, and Leks at 13. That year will be such excitement for John and Adam with THREE hormonal crazies in the house! lol!

Anyway, that was the weekend in a nutshell! Happy New Year!