Friends, HomeSchool, Learning all the time

Schools Out…NOT

May 29, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

We homeschool year round.† I believe learning is an ongoing process.† We learn every day.† How can you just STOP that for 3 months?† It is crazy.† But public schools are out here.† Which means no more quite mornings laying in the hammock and reading.† There will be kids…kids knocking on the door, kids wanting to play in the water, kids wanting to swing.† Now don’t get me wrong, I love kids.† Most of ’em. 😉

Gina picked us up to go spend the day at Suzette’s.† She had a cool new toy!† A Garmin GPS!† This was his maiden voyage and we loved it!† I gots’ to get my directionally challenged self one of these!

We spent a great day at Suzette’s.† 6 Moms, 11 kids, several dogs.† We had lunch and talked.† Suz told us about the awesome trip she is taking in her camper.† 36 days!† She will never come out of it SANE! 🙂

I have the greatest homeschool friends! I adore them all and I love ALL their kids! Now seriously, how many of your friends can you say that about??? <g>

Kei and I watched the National Spelling Bee last night!† We were rooting for the homeschoolers.† Especially Serena. She was so cool!† Of the 11 finalists, 3 were homeschoolers!!† I was truly amazed.† I consider myself fairly intelligent and I had never heard of 90% of those words!† Here are a few of them:

antonomasia, bouquiniste, oriflamme, guayabera, isagoge and sophrosyne.† SAY WHAT????

Have a great weekend,

My beautiful child

It’s All Worth It..

May 27, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

Times are hard, not just for me I know.† But times are hard for me.† The entertainment business is slow right now.† I work in that business.† I am a single mom.† I homeschool.† Times are hard.

I have felt very down the last few days.† This is very unlike me, I am such a glass is half full kinda girl.† The glass has felt empty lately.

Then…she does something so delightful and I realize this is what it’s all about.† And we will make it through.

We have been learning about the Middle Ages and watching Xena.† Kei LOVES kick butt warrior girls but she hates Xena’s outfit.† She said “She would never wear something like that!”† She is such a Nun.† [Personally, if I looked like Xena, I would wear that too!] 😉

Friends, Life, My beautiful child

Memorial Weekend

May 26, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

We had a pretty good weekend.† Actually Kei had a great weekend.† I had a worrying weekend.† I try not to worry about things but it is so hard sometimes.† I watch K play and think “I wish I was 9 and had no worries”† Now I know there are too many children who do have hard lives and worry about things but I try so very hard not to let K’s life be like that.† There is time enough to worry when they grow up.

After church on Sunday we went to Daddy’s and Katherine [my niece] wanted to spend the night.† The girls played outside, played Operation,

they played in Kei’s sand box that she has outgrown but we can’t bear to get rid of:

I sat on the balcony and read my Maximum Ride books!† My sweet Gina & Co. had brought them by for me Sunday.† Thanks Esther for picking them up at the library!† I love these books.† They are great for adults and kids.† I mean what is not to love about flying kids!

Monday the weather was semi nice.† Mostly sunny which is unusual lately.† Seth [my nephew] came over for a while and the girls played outside.

Laura had so graciously invited us over to grill out.† My California friends crack up when I say “grill out”.† They ‘barbecue”.† I try to tell them that barbeque is a sauce you put on meat.† Not all grilled food is barbecued!† Here in the South, we GRILL OUT!† Anyway the food was yummy!

All in all, a good weekend,

I hope this week is better for us,

Hugs,

Friends, Life

Little Girls..

May 23, 2009 Karen 1 Comment

Do you remember how it feels to be a kid?† A little girl with your best friend spending the night and limitless possibilities.† I think adults forget that feeling.† I think the world would be a happier place if more of us remembered.

Kei had Livvy spend the night last night.† They have been friends since Kindergarten.† Both were PSed for K-1st.† I pulled Kei out and about a month later so did Laura.

First they shot videos.† Livvy as Betsy Ross, complete with a telephone!

Kei as …..something. 🙂

Then Livvy as Juliet.

Then playing Barbies in my room because Kei’s room was messy!

Then the required play that Kei has to put on no matter where she is!

Ahhh to be 9 and have no worries in the world besides what to play next.

Bestest Friends — Swinging In PJ's Before Breakfast

Happy Weekend,

Friends, HomeSchool, Learning all the time, Life

Tadpole Rescue 911..

May 21, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

Today Heather invited us over to rescue tadpoles.† Now Kei and I have never been to an event quite like this so we arrived very excited.

First the kids played.

I Can Go Higher Than You! Giggles

Then we ate lunch.† Heather made chicken salad and it was awesome!

Then Suzette, Heather, Esther, Gina and I chatted while the kids played Wii.† Then it was out to rescue tadpoles from the pool.

Kei was not content with one container of tadpoles, she had to fill another baggie full to take to Bull’s.

We had a great time but everyone had to hurry home to move the tadpoles from their baggies and jars into a more permanent home. † We had a blast.

We stopped by Daddy’s on the way home and Kei and Daddy let her 2nd batch of tads out in the creek.

I love days like today.† What could be better than great friends; great food;† happy, laughing kids; and new pets?

Thanks Heather,

Life, My beautiful child, Weather

Still Sunny…

May 20, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

Today was a good day.
It’s strange, because I am so broke, things are looking dismal for our company, but it was a good day.
Money has always been unimportant to me. It has become important through not having any.

Today Kei played outside for hours and I read my Harlan Coben book. I love him. He is smart and witty and such a great writer.

I am reading The Whipping Boy to her and I read some of that also.† It is a great book and we are both enjoying it.† We started the Middle Ages Monday and have tons of resources for that time period.† It is one of my favorite times.† She made a Wanted poster for Prince Brat.

Now I am getting things together for chicken fajitas for dinner. Yummy and easy.

Tonight we are going to watch the American Idol results show!† Go Adam!!

Just a very good day, me and my girl.

HomeSchool, Life, My beautiful child

Burning Ball in the Sky!

May 19, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

I awoke this morning to SUN Glorious SUN!† For a minute there I wasn’t sure what it was.† It was great to see it.

I was on the computer checking emails, reading blogs, doing the usual morning stuff when this appeared on my stairs.† I had to video it, I mean, what else could I do!? How does she know who Ozzy is? No clue! [Yes I realize you can see me in the mirror ;)]

Then we went to Wilson Morgan Park for a play day.† We both had fun. K ran and played and giggled and pretended.

Then she played with Coco, Regina and Anna’s dog. She loved him!

Us moms sat on a blanket and just talked for hours.† It was awesome!

Now its time to watch American Idol!!† The Finals.

Hugs,

HomeSchool, My beautiful child, Weather

rainrainrainrainrain

May 13, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

Will it ever stop!!??

At least it is good for domino stacking.† I can’t imagine the people who stack millions of Dominos.† Kei was screaming because hers kept falling and she only had a few.

Or creating a BARBIE Town in the middle of the den.† You don’t think she actually plays in her room do you?

I have no clue why the dog is on the table!!

Stay dry,

K/K

My Mother

Happy Mother’s Day

May 10, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

Today is the day.

1 year ago my Mother died.† I can’t believe it has been a year.

It seems like forever. It seems like yesterday.

There has not been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought of and missed my Mother.† Kei tells me that many nights as I fall asleep, I call for her.

I still see her take her last breath.† I remember how I felt when I walked outside and sat in the garden.† The sun was shining so brightly and I was motherless. I remember thinking that nothing will ever be right again. At times, I still feel that way.

Her death has changed me.† I am more convinced than ever that homeschooling Kei is the right thing.† I want to savor every moment of her childhood.† I hug her more often.† We dance in the kitchen more and sing songs at the top of our lungs. I stop and smell the roses more often.† I try to make better choices. I pray more.† I thank God more.† I watch the beauty of nature more.† I appreciate my Daddy more.† I try to be kinder to people more.

Her death has changed my Daddy.† He is calmer, more accepting of things that donít matter.† He doesn’t stress over things.† How sad that the love of his life had to die, for him to finally understand that life is too short for quick anger.

I talk to her a lot, but sometimes I wish she could answer.† Kei and I talk about her.† I don’t want K to forget her.† Countless times I have needed her, to ask about a recipe, to tell her something Kei said or did, just to ask her a ëmotherí question. This has been a hard year financially for us; and I often I wish I could talk to her about it. I wish she could give me advice. When things were going crazy in my life, she always said, ëDonít worry babe, things will be fineí; and I would say ìPromise meî and she would say, ìI promise.î

I wish I had hugged her more.† I wish I hadn’t ever gotten frustrated with her.† I wish I had spent more time with her. I wish I had her voice on my answering machine.† I wish I could hold her hand.† I wish I could still smell her perfume, I wish she would call me and ask me to make her chicken stew,†I wish I could hear her call me her baby. I wish she could call me and tell me good night.

And a year later, it still hurts so badly and I still need my Mother and she is gone.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Karen

Life, My beautiful child, nature, Weather

TGIF…

May 9, 2009 Karen Leave a comment

Fridays used to be a huge deal for me.

Start of the weekend, school’s out, work is finished.

Now…not so much.† I work from home so I am pretty much available 24/7, Kei is homeschooled, the weekend is just the weekend.

But Friday was beautiful!† It has been so rainy and yucky here.† I am so tired of soggy ground, dashing everywhere with something over our heads, wet everything!

Kei made the most of the day.

First, she planted a garden.† Ok Ok I realized afterwards you can’t plant anything in a container that doesn’t drain!† I am going to fix that.† I am new at this “Country Girl” stuff ok?

Then she found what we thought was a lizard but on further research decided was a salamander.† Regardless, she loved it.† She kept it about 30 minutes and then started feeling bad and released it.

Then, she played in the sprinkler. Well she played in 3 sprinklers because she couldn’t make up her mind which one was best!

Then it was time for a little rest.

She spent the rest of the day reading and running around.

Then she insisted on making dinner “all by herself”.† She bakes quite often and is very careful but her dinner was going to involve chopping….lots of chopping.† She begged and promised to be careful so I agreed.† She made me sit outside where I was listening for the sound of fingers being cut off but all went well.† It was a delicious dinner and she was so proud of herself!

We had vegetable stir fry, leftover pasta salad and for desert…Grape and Banana Kabob with whipped cream.

Ahhh…my little chef.

Happy weekend,

K/K

HomeSchool Girls