NaNoWriMo Final Report

Final NaNoWriMo report:
We all finished and surpassed our goals! Cue the wild cheering and throwing of multi-colored confetti!!!!

Lisa - 50,009 (ok, so I only went 9 words over! lol)
David - 50,497 (goal 50,000 - 1st year for the whole enchilada)
Emily - 15,438 (goal 10,000)
James - 10,001 (goal 5,000)
Suzy - 3,569 (goal 3,000)

We all printed out our cheerful NaNoWriMo winner's certificates and today we attended a wrap party. It was really intended to be a write-in, but just about everyone there had already finished, so we just partied instead. A lot of friends did NaNo this year and quite a few of them finished - so CONGRATS to all you 50K achievers! And if you tried and didn't hit the 50K mark, there's always next year!

We will edit in January and I've set a goal of completing the editing this year instead of letting it fall by the wayside. From looking at their rough drafts, I can see what each child needs to work on (ie. paragraphing, quotation marks, capitalization, etc...). So we'll set aside some time for grammar, spelling, and punctuation editing and some separate times for content editing.

Suzy won't be editing for grammar and punctuation since I typed hers. She can use her time better working on her phonics to increase her literacy. Next year, she can type her own book maybe!

I won't be editing mine anytime soon (or ever?). However, I plan to pull out the 2008 NaNoNovel I wrote and finish editing that one. I've also already started writing a new novel as part of Inkygirl's 1000 words a day challenge. Click the badge or check the sidebar for more info.

Lisa's Logbook - November 28

Outside: Sunny and cold

Sounds: David arguing with me

Home: Going through my file cabinets of old teaching stuff

Projects: Visiting Churches

Pondering: why do the kids always put the meat in the FREEZER when they unload the groceries?

Teaching: Oh my, need to think about Christmas School

Gratitude: Thankful for my job.

Recipes: James likes to bake! Ain't that a grand thing?

Duds: jeans, red long sleeved shirt, NaNo hoodie, socks and tennis shoes, curled my hair, decided makeup was too much work.

Reads: reading Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig and listening to Scream-Free Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel; going to move on to A Christmas Carol when these are done

Vids: The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (on Nick - bleh), Prince of Persia (loved it! Thought I would not enjoy it)

Hopes: that I can do most of my Christmas shopping online within the next few days.

Love: WINNING NaNoWriMo! What a feeling!!!!

Plans: Working 4-5 hours M-F, gymnastics open gym, writing, co-op, James' birthday and a birthday party

Pic: The kids' table at Thanksgiving (check the difference between the plates in front of Suzy and James - closest to the camera. And yes, James ate all of his.)

Free Christmas Music

You can get lots of free MP3 downloads from Amazon. I suggest googling "free amazon mp3s". But here's a list of Christmas albums to get you started.

The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree - Veggie Tales
Sugo Music Free Holiday Sampler
Chacra World Music Holiday Sampler
Timeless Christmas
The Bell Medley

I don't start listening to Christmas music until Thanksgiving. :-)

Enjoy!

Lisa's Logbook - November 21

Outside: Probably cold. Don't know. Have not gone out. Sick.

Sounds: Smile FM

Home: Bob fixed the dryer! Yay, no more damp laundry hanging about!

Projects: NaNoWriMo is all I can handle for November, oh yeah and fundraising for the Regency Ball

Pondering: where I picked up a nasty stomach germ

Teaching: Writing (novel writing, to be exact)

Gratitude: the youth retreat David went on this weekend and the scrapbooking day I got to enjoy with friends

Recipes: butternut squash soup

Duds: PJ's, robe, fuzzy striped pink socks

Reads: just finished Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich (read it all this afternoon) and getting ready to read Rhett Butler's People

Vids: Sherlock (PBS - 2 episodes - WOW!), Just Wright

Hopes: that no one else in my house gets this stomach bug - NASTY

Love: HOBBY LOBBY! Omigosh!

Plans: Working 4-5 hours M-F, gymnastics, traveling for Thanksgiving, lots of writing, a babysitting fundraiser

Pic: I've not had a chance to add a pic! Sorry!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

NaNoWriMo update

I haven't talked much about NaNoWriMo, but the kids and I are participating again this year. They've all been very motivated, due in part, I'm sure, to the reward system I have in place. They get a reward for each 10% goal - some small like a package of Mike & Ike's and some large, like Emily's regency dress for the ball. Some are privileges, like staying up late. I mostly made them things I would probably buy anyway.

So here's our progress:
Lisa - 29,595 (goal 50K)
David (10th gr) - 28,387 (goal 50K - first time he's done the WHOLE THING!)
Emily (8th gr) - 12,020 (goal of 10K met! But she's not stopping now.)
James (5th gr) - 7,419 (goal of 5K met! He's aiming for 10K now.)
Suzy (3rd gr) - 3400 (goal of 3K met! She's aiming for 6K now.)
I transcribe for Suzy, because her reading/writing fluency is low.

We set our goals as suggested by NaNo's Young Writers Program - at 1,000 words per grade level. Except for David who decided he could manage the entire 50K this year. Oh yeah, and Emily wanted hers set a little higher. However, three of the kids met their initial goals halfway through the month, so I think the goals are great for beginning novelists. Kids who have done NaNoWriMo before probably could have a bit more challenging goals. Next year I'll keep that in mind.

I've had some great plot discussions with each of them. David always helps me with my plot as well. We used only a small part of the workbooks from the Young Writers Program. Emily found the character worksheets helpful and all of us used the plot rollercoaster. We also sent away our inner editors.

David and Emily and I have attended several write-ins, which I personally have found very helpful. James attended one, but he was not very focused.

OK, time to move on! Oh yeah, I bought a NANOWRIMO hoodie this year and I've worn it every day since I got it (Nov 5). (Mine was a second, so it cost less.) It's so warm and cozy and it fits great! LOVE IT!

Lisa's Logbook - November 14

Outside: Dark and cold.

Sounds: Movie on tv, David talking with me

Home: Trying for some organization and extra cleaning

Projects: NaNoWriMo is all I can handle for November, oh yeah and fundraising for the Regency Ball

Pondering: beginning my Christmas shopping

Teaching: Writing (novel writing, to be exact)

Gratitude: thankful for the discount grocery store near me
(I have a hard time being trivial here. I always want to say - friends, family, God....)

Recipes: Made lemon bars and key lime bars for the dessert banquet.

Duds: PJ's, robe, fuzzy striped pink socks

Reads: listening to Pride & Prejudice, reading A Smack on the Side of the Head

Vids: Life as We Know It (theater - predictable but good), Gone with the Wind part 2, Went with the Wind (Carol Burnett Show), The Losers

Hopes: a 5000 word day soon! Monday???

Love: seeing my kids so excited about writing! James met his goal today!

Plans: Working 4-5 hours M-F, co-op, lots of writing including a write-in

Pic:

A Change to Win $100

I love reading Lynette Kraft's blog. It's always cheerful, fresh, and just inspiring. She's a woman who hasn't let life's problems weigh her down but always rests in the knowledge of the love of Jesus. Her love for her family always shines through and encourages me.

Win $100 Gift Certificate for CSN Stores from Lynnette at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground!

Lisa's Logbook - November 7

Outside: Sunny but chilly.

Sounds: Christian music on radio, Bob shutting the front door

Home: Moved a dresser downstairs for Suzy since hers died.

Projects: NaNoWriMo is all I can handle for November, oh yeah and fundraising for the Regency Ball

Pondering: what to do with my story, which I detest

Teaching: Writing (novel writing, to be exact)

Gratitude: So thankful to live in America after reading the description of the famine in Malawi about 10 years ago.

Recipes: ohmygoodness, am I supposed to cook?

Duds: grey long-sleeved tee, red sweats, socks, and slippers, hair in ponytail

Reads: almost done with Gone with the Wind (on audio) and just finished The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwambe and Bryan Mealer (my mom's suggestion - HIGHLY recommended! I'm going to read it to my kids.

Vids: Beezus and Ramona (SO adorable and entertaining), Sense and Sensibility (two versions), The Last Song (I wish some other young actress had been cast as Ronnie rather than Miley Cyrus.)

Hopes: that calorie counting will show some results soon!

Love: my NaNoWriMo hoodie! It's soft and warm and fits me perfectly!

Plans: Working 4-5 hours M-F, gymnastics, David's awards banquet (2nd year varsity soccer), lots of writing

Pic:
This wig is making the rounds.

(BTW, I would share the pic of Bob from his work costume contest, but he told me I can't put it online. But I can email it to you if you want to see it.)

Lisa's Logbook - October 31

Outside: A lovely fall day but COLD

Sounds: Clock ticking, furnace running, and candy calling shrilly "lisalisalisalisa"

Home: HUGE piles of candy

Projects: NaNoWriMo is all I can handle for November

Pondering: my crazy main character named Marjorie

Teaching: Writing (novel writing, to be exact)

Gratitude: To have such wonderful parents! Love you, Mommy and Daddy!

Recipes: Planning to use the slow cooker a lot. Was given a HUGE roast, so will be serving that up!

Duds: jeans, long johns, squareneck multicolored top, grey hoodie over top, slippers and no socks (and my feet are cold)

Reads: Gone with the Wind (on audio) and Ann Rule's new true crime book.

Vids: The Lake House (man, I love that movie), an episode of Blue Bloods (a fav of sis Janet and mom),

Hopes: that I can manage my time wisely over the next 30 days - write 50K, work 88 hours (or possibly up to 110), get everyone where they need to be, keep the groceries stocked and the food plentiful.

Love: getting lost in my writing

Plans: Working 4-5 hours M-F, 1 last soccer game, a homeschool meeting/write-in, another write-in, co-op Friday, a movie night with the teens, and other stuff too..... Just text me. lol

Pic: David/Ted at the Circle K

Day Off

So.... I bet you're wondering what our "day off" of lessons actually looks like.

This week, I scheduled our "day off" on Wednesday since I knew that would work best with the schedule. Usually it's a Friday though.

David was asked to do some computer networking at a small private school. A friend volunteers there because her daughter attends. This is the 3rd day David has worked on their computer lab. He is getting all the computers in the lab connected to the internet. So, that's David's day. (He reports that the computer lab is all set up now. And yes, he got paid!)

Emily had a field trip today with some other teen girls. Her "beautiful you" class at co-op had free makeovers scheduled and then lunch out! This is great for her - time out with agemates and practice with life skills (choosing food and ordering for herself in a restaurant).

James and Suzy had a lazy morning. We dropped Emily off, then they watched a Bionicle movie James had requested from Netflix. Then he was recruited to pick some butternut squash from a local farmer's field to be donated to a food bank. He was gone for several hours doing that. He was treated to a McFlurry and pizza while he was gone. He brought back a whole bunch of squash that I have been challenged (yeah, you know who you are!) to cook and eat.

That left only Suzy at home with me. That happens so rarely I was taken aback. Then we decided to have SPA DAY. She had gotten a manicure/pedicure science kit. I know - sounds weird. We had to mix up all the components for the hand soak, scrub, and lotion. V. cool. We did our hands and feet, buffed our fingernails and painted our toenail. I also curled her hair. She loved it all!

I also got 4.25 hours of work done during the day, scrubbed the stovetop and cleaned under it, scrubbed a wall, hung out 2 loads of laundry and brought them in (they dried in record time due to the wind). I read a couple chapters of Gone with the Wind. Then I got dinner ready and headed out to a book sale with a friend, picking up David on the way.

Now I'm home with my box of books, settling in to do my last 45 minutes of work for the evening.

[Oh yeah, forgot to say that I also made three phone calls that I have been procrastinating for a long time. One of them since JULY. lol]