Lisa's Logbook - May 29

Current Mood: Apprehensive about the 5K tomorrow
Outside: WET - raining again - tornado watch and 67
Wearing: Brown tee (with Firefly slogan), tan capris, bare feet
Tunes: just flipping the radio stations around whenever I'm in the van
Kids Are: 1 is washing a little tea set, 1 is on his laptop, 2 are upstairs doing something
Hubby Is: reading the Bible
Made Me Laugh: the "Punch and Judy" puppet show today at the Feast of the Ste.Claire, apparently written and performed by local middle school drama students
Made Me Sad: hearing that a friend of a friend (a local homeschool mom) was killed in a car accident while on vacation
Made Me Smile: standing in line for the porta potty with 2 guys in full historic military regalia and one quipped, "Pre-battle jitters...." lol
Blessings: Bob fixed the printer!
Reading: Max Lucado's Out Live Your Life and Tina Fey's Bossypants (kind of an odd juxtaposition of books there, isn't it?)
Watching: The IT Crowd, Quantum Leap, The Last of the Mohicans, Surrogates
Considering: teaching a writing class next year for grades 6-9 (and high schoolers that need basic skills)
Working On: entering all the soccer registrations
Accomplishments: FINISHED The Last of the Mohicans!!! Tested for my yellow belt in Tang Soo Do.
Lessons: Summer learning plan will commence shortly. Details to appear here soon.
Agenda: Working 4 hours M-F, karate 1x, soccer practices and games, grading essays, a 5K on Memorial Day, last essay class
Pic: Bob with the kids on his 50th birthday last week.  (I took 6 pictures and he was making the same face in each one. lol)

Lisa's Logbook - May 22

Current Mood: Outside: Sunny and 81!Wearing: red tank top, shorts, and sunscreen!
Tunes: Toto
Kids Are: 1 in the shower washing off the sand, the rest are sucking on their slushies
Hubby Is: napping
Made Me Laugh: Pirates of the Caribbean 4
Made Me Sad: I wish I'd taken pictures at the homeschool convention; it was such a lovely time with friends!
Made Me Smile: Having my parents visit today
Blessings: James got to go on a wonderful boys' campout this weekend. He loved it and can't wait for next year. The homeschool convention this weekend was a lot of fun, though that was more due to the company than the convention itself.
Reading: haven't finished anything I've been reading, though I am working away at them all. Started Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin.
Watching: The IT Crowd, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (4), Quantum Leap, Wings
Considering: Gotta get a new printer - mine died
Working On: switching out the winter clothes and bringing in the summer things
Accomplishments: Didn't go crazy in the vendor hall at the convention and only spent money I had!
Lessons: This is our last week before summer break. Karate testing is this week too!
Agenda: Working 5 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, grading essays, a park day, book club and a 5K on Memorial Day
Pic: Suzy on her 9th birthday with her handcrafted card from Grandma. She was very impressed with it!

Lisa's Logbook - May 15

Current Mood: Really really tired. and I do mean REALLY. Outside: The most gorgeous sunset!
Wearing: black yoga pants, pink long sleeved tee, black hoodie, black slippers
Tunes: Journey (I can sing it really loud; can you? Don't stop believing.....)
Kids Are: 2 are praying with their dad, 2 are looking at banquet pix on facebook
Hubby Is: praying with 2 of his kids
Made Me Laugh: Watching the dancing last night at the homeschool banquet
Made Me Sad: The adult son of church friends was killed by a drunk driver.
Made Me Smile: spending time with my friend today
Blessings: Such a wonderful opportunity for the kids to attend a beautifully done and ever-so enjoyable homeschool banquet/dance; also got to shop at the discount grocery store in Otisville today. Whee!
Reading: still listening to the oh-so-dull Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, in the middle of How To Be Perfect (about a church trying to live the book of Leviticus for a month), still reading The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker, and 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching by Phillip Done
Watching: Psych, Alatriste (Viggo Mortensen in Spanish with English subtitles), Life on Mars
Considering: Making David go get a part time job.
Working On: grading essays and the co-op schedule for next year
Accomplishments: Got through 2 days of soccer registration with no major issues (even though 1 day happened outside in a rainstorm in a tent); also got my winter clothes put away.
Lessons: A final two week push and then moving on to summer learning plans
Agenda: Working 5 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, grading essays, a soccer meeting, a co-op planning meeting, a running form class
Pic: About 50 homeschooled teens who attended the Spring Homeschool Banquet/Dance Saturday night. Can you spot mine?

Lisa's Logbook - May 8

Current Mood: Blessed
Outside: 60's, sunny, and GORGEOUS!
Wearing: hot pink tee, jeans, pink hoodie socks
Tunes: nothing really
Kids Are: 1 is napping, 2 are on the computer, and 1 went upstairs for an unknown reason
Hubby Is: visiting his mother
Made Me Laugh: seeing similarities between Thor and Lord of the Rings (they have a cave troll!)
Made Me Sad: arguing with my son
Made Me Smile: being at the nature center with my kids in the sunshine
Blessings: The Message Bible has been a huge blessing to me in the past couple weeks.
Reading: listening to the oh-so-dull Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, in the middle of How To Be Perfect (about a church trying to live the book of Leviticus for a month), still reading The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker, and 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching by Phillip Done
Watching: Psych, Thor, It's Kind of a Funny Story
Considering: Why is church important? Why does it look like it does in modern America? Why should we be involved? How do we find "church" in the church?
Working On: planning soccer registration, grading essays (40 more), getting the teen kids' outfits ready for the homeschool banquet, and the co-op schedule for next year
Accomplishments: Cleaned up the landing, got the essays all graded before class, got a tentative co-op schedule figured out with Darlene
Lessons: almost DONE!!! Our last day will be the Friday before Memorial Day; I have some learning planned for the summer though.
Agenda: Working 5 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, grading essays, a Park Day, two sessions of soccer registration (I am in charge), a homeschool banquet - BUSY BUSY BUSY
Pic: James and me today at the nature center.

Lisa's Logbook - May 1

Current Mood: Cheerful
Outside: Mostly Cloudy and "sorta chilly" according to Suzy
Wearing: hot pink tee, light pink long sleeved tee, jeans, socks, slippers,
Tunes: not much
Kids Are: 1 is at home with Bob, the other 3 are here at Maryann's w/me
Hubby Is: home making omelets with James
Made Me Laugh: seeing a dog with his head out the car window, jowls flapping in the breeze
Made Me Sad: my friend's husband had some life-threatening health issues this week (but miraculously, he is doing better!)
Made Me Smile: realizing today is May 1st! And also seeing brand new kittens at Maryann's house.
Blessings: Maryann has some curriculum I was hoping to buy!
Reading: listening to Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, reading The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker, and 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching by Phillip Done

Watching: Psych (officially addicted), and Megamind
Considering: dying my hair tonight
Working On: planning soccer registration, organizing the landing, grading essays (20 more)
Accomplishments: found a van to buy (well, Bob found it), got Essay class #2 planned out and 40 essays graded.
Lessons:  changing 2 of the kids to Teaching Textbooks math
Agenda: Working 4 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, a mom's night out, teaching Essay class, art class

Pic:  The kids on Easter morning.

Lisa's Logbook - April 24

Current Mood: Sugared Up
Outside: Mostly Sunny and in the 50's today.
Wearing: Black Skirt, Peach Top, Brown flats (they didn't match, but they also didn't hurt my feet)
Tunes: the stuff on my Walkman (W series)
Kids Are: also all sugared-up!
Hubby Is: napping
Made Me Laugh: Psych, of course! Such a cleverly-written show!
Made Me Sad: Forgot to take pix of the kids today in their Sunday clothes. Only got a snap of Suzy.
Made Me Smile: Running outside in the sunshine! And then doing my karate form out there too. :-)
Blessings:  Found a dress for Emily to wear to the homeschool banquet and it's not going to need much alteration.
Reading: Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Watching: Psych (officially addicted) and Life on Mars & The IT Crowd (also on Netflix instant). Oh, and Tron: Legacy. It was weird watching the movie because we listen to the soundtrack pretty much non-stop. The music is SO familiar that it was almost unsettling watching the action unfold to it. lol
Considering: Changing my Netflix plan to 1-out instead of 2-out. Would save me $5 a month since we have switched to mostly watching Instant! I do like the flexibility of 2-out, but......
Working On: Soccer registration and getting back into counting calories and working out.
Accomplishments: Learned my 1st basic form in Tang Soo Do. Taught the kids to blow out eggs.
Lessons: Bought an e-book to help James with the sounds of S, Sh, and Z which give him trouble in his speech
Agenda: Working 4 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, a leadership meeting, rescheduled Egg Hunt/Park Day
Pic:

Lisa's Logbook - April 17

Current Mood: Relaxed
Outside: SNOWING and 39 degrees. Blech! (last week it was 81 and sunny?!)
Wearing: Khaki pants, sapphire blue blouse, blue necklace, brown loafers, hair blown straight
Tunes: Listened to part of my Country Jog playlist
Kids Are: 1 is sitting here talking to me, 1 is on the computer, 2 are upstairs
Hubby Is: finishing lunch
Made Me Laugh: book club always makes me laugh! We have such fun! 
Made Me Sad: disagreements in my family
Made Me Drool: just THINKING about gelato makes me drool 
Blessings: Lesson plans are pretty much set for my essay class. Love teaching classes I already planned well and taught once before.
Reading:  Run by Ann Patchett and listening to Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Watching: Source Code (EXCELLENT), Psych (love it on Netflix instant) and Due Date (all the funny stuff was in the trailer and almost none of the crude stuff was), as well as Wives and Daughters at book club.
Considering: furniture purchases and a vehicle purchase as well
Working On: learning my karate form.
Accomplishments: Managed to run 2 miles on Tuesday. Just once this week. Rain rain rain snow....
Lessons: Starting Emily on HELP math this week - 2 week trial to see how we like it. Also Em and David are taking my essay class (along with 18 other students).
Agenda: Working 4 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, the 1st essay class
Pic: Check out these directions to a local theater!

Lisa's Logbook - April 10

Current Mood: Mellow
Outside: 81 degrees??? Breezy and sunny! Crocuses!
Wearing: Black yoga pants, blue tee, bare feet
Tunes: Just Wives and Daughters
Kids Are: 2 are painting their bedrooms, 2 are chatting in the living room.
Hubby Is: Cleaning up the yard.
Made Me Laugh:  Sitting with my good friend
Made Me Sad: Bob's aunt passed away. Also seeing Suzy's tonsils was pretty sad.
Made Me Drool:  walking down the Easter candy aisle - so many kinds of JELLYBEANS! lol
Blessings: Walking into the urgent care with Suzy and there being NO OTHER PATIENTS there. How often does THAT happen? No waiting!
Reading: Just finished Wives and Daughters for book club and Cinderella Ate My Daughter. Started listening to Voyager by Diana Gabaldon and reading a book about a waitress' life experiences.
Watching: Psych and Life on Mars
Considering: Going to a movie. Anyone want to see Source Code or Soul Surfer?
Working On: soccer registration fliers, also the bedroom rearranging project
Accomplishments: Matched up a few waiting list players with open spots on spring soccer teams.
Lessons: Worked on David's transcript with a cool transcript generator my friend Maryann told me about:
http://www.howtohomeschooltoday.com/freebies/homeschool_forms/record_keeping_forms/transcript_creator
Agenda: Working 4 hours M-F, karate, soccer practices and games, book club, homeschool rollerskating
Pic: First pic is Em and Suzy's room - half spring green and half lilac.

Second pic is David's end of the boys' room - partially painted regal purple. He even painted the ceiling. LOL And the trim is going to be onyx black.

Third pic shows James' end of the boys' room. His is light blue on top (sky) and dark blue on bottom (waves) and he is painting waves on the walls. He wants shark decals and fishes too. Ignore the huge messy pile in the middle that no one even covered with a sheet while painting. LOL He did his ceiling too, I believe, and the trim will likely be white.

Lisa's Logbook - April 3

Current Mood: Tired
Outside: THUNDER SNOW! And once again, the ground is white. And it's supposed to get up to 50 DURING THE NIGHT. WTH???
Wearing: jeans and a grey sweatshirt. That's like my uniform.
Tunes: Didn't listen to much all week really. Sad, isn't it?
Kids Are: 2 are doing writing lessons they skipped during the week. 2 are watching Holes.
Hubby Is: napping. Surprise!
Made Me Laugh: Psych! I just LOVE that show! SOO clever!
Made Me Sad: Someone I considered a friend hasn't been acting like one.
Made Me Drool: Macaroni and cheese PIZZA at Cici's today! YUUUUUMMMMMY!!! (Don't knock it til you've tried it!)
Blessings: My new camera takes good videos!
Reading: Started a book but not sure I like it. Also going to be finishing Wives and Daughters this week. Then I can listen to some Gabaldon!!!

Watching: Henry Poole Was Here and lots of Psych

Considering: the details of an essay class I am going to teach this spring. It's a repeat of the one I taught last year, but I need to charge a bit more or do less essay grading.
Working On: soccer registration fliers, also the bedroom rearranging project
Accomplishments: Finished another year of co-op! Woot!

Lessons: going to focus on IEW this week. Also David's math is getting really hard and he can't do as much in a week. So, re-adjusting my expectations for him.

Agenda: Working 4 hours M-F, karate, a couple meetings
Pic:

This is the skit my Austentatious class has been working on since the fall. We performed it Friday night at our co-op program. I'm second from the right and my daughter Emily is in the light green on the far right.

Breaking Boards

I am not sure these pictures showed up when I originally posted this. So I re-published them. Do you see them now?

We started homeschool karate last week at a nearby studio. They offered a special introductory homeschool program twice a week in the afternoons. Three short intro sessions and a uniform were included. They got a very good response and we are part of a large class. I've decided (against popular opinion) to sign all 5 of us up for their homeschool program that begins next Monday. I'm enjoying it and it fits my goal of keeping us active as a family.

Specifics for those who want to know: It's Korean martial arts called Tang Soo Do.