Eliza has been very patient while I've been working at getting the kids into their new school schedule, however, I know she is feeling not having enough attention from her mom. Today I told her pretty soon I will be able to spend more time on her pre-school. She asked why I didn't just make the kids' school work easier. I asked her what she would suggest and she replied that I should let them paint all day.

She loves playing with play-dough and has been known to be occupied with that task for three hours at a time.

The other day, I can't remember what we were listening to, (maybe a conference talk?) that had big words that she couldn't understand. In frustration she asked, "what are they saying? Why are they talking in Spanish?"

She is so cute and I am glad the kids are finally getting settled into our new school routine so I can take time out and enjoy her.

I got to go to the pumpkin patch with Derek's kindergarten class. Norah loves pumpkins. She has been practicing and can say "pumpkin" pretty well now. She says it when ever she sees one and would like nothing better than to have me carry her around all day with her in one arm and her pumpkin in the other. I wonder what she is going to think when it comes time to carve them...

She did not like the hay ride. She tolerated the ride to the patch but did not want to get back on. That's when we started practicing the work pumpkin. She also learned how to say "corn" although she probably thought I was crazy pointing to those withering stalks and calling them corn. They look nothing like the frozen little yellow kernels she likes to snack on.

She also likes to say shoes. She likes to put them on and go outside. She will also bring me my shoes so I will go with her.

Although her words are still limited, she can definitely communicate. From Target's $1 section I bought Halloween and Fall plastic plates that have different sections in them. Earlier this week when I made Norah's lunch, I put a sandwich in one section, some carrots in one, and nuts in the other. (It's so strange that she likes and can eat nuts and carrots.  My other kids only had a few teeth by this age.) That left one section empty. She pointed at it, looked at me expectantly and grunted. She got half a graham cracker there.

Emma played the piano while Emma Baugh played the violin for Activity Day Recognition Night. She is doing very well in school and with her enrichment subjects afterwards.

Merian is so dependable. She has been getting her homework done early and I don't even have to tell her. I am looking forward to having her home, when ever that may be.

This is kind of weird, but after it happened Nathan commented it was a conversation to record.

I was snuggling with Derek the other night.  We just don't get enough of that now that he is in Kindergarten. He's always telling me I'm the best mom ever and how much he loves me. After the usual, he told me that after I died he would hug my bones. He must have sensed that wasn't a normal thing to say and tried to make it better. "I mean I'll hold your bones with a napkin." Hmmm....

Merian and I have been talking about the possibility of her being home schooled. It has always been the plan to start in fourth grade, so she'd be coming home next year, but I miss her! She wants to be home schooled too and I know she's a good worker and a responsible learner. She has friends and cousins at school and is doing well socially and academically, but mentions the hope of coming home when ever she can. Her best part of her day is always coming home. She hasn't complained about anything, although I know she really wants to be home schooled. I don't want her to think she has to complain in order to get what she wants.  Mainly, I just miss her and would love to have her home. We might have to move the rooms around again so that we can have a bigger school room...

I'm not a confident home school mom. I worry all the time if I'm doing enough for my children academically and socially. It's like some grand experiment and I won't know the results until too late. But I like what I see so far. My kids are learning. Not only are they learning the material, but they are learning how to teach themselves and focus on learning, not on merely making the grade. Emma always impresses me how she will work on math until she understands it, not just trying to learn quick tricks to pass the tests. Ultimately, the goal is for them to move from one subject to another without prodding, and they are getting pretty good at it, so they are learning self motivation and discipline. Megan is so good at it she always finishes her work before lunch and then has the afternoon to work on her talents and explore her interests. I wish she had more opportunities to be with kids her own age, and I curse PSD for not even reading our petitions for her to be involved in drama, but we're working on that. Michael has been putting forth a lot of effort since I told him about academic scholarships. :) Emma is also learning French, practicing the piano and doing other good things with her extra time.

Michael is thinking about playing basketball. I asked why he brought it up and he answered because I'm always talking about them needing to do things for enrichment (what they are supposed to be doing in the afternoon.)

I like that we are together. I look forward to this winter when we are done with our work being able to drink hot chocolate and read or watch a movie. I just always hope that I am enough for them all. That I am a good enough teacher and have enough left in me to be a nourishing mother. That I am still able to enjoy the little ones.

I'm getting too thoughtful.  Time to go write in my journal instead.

if at first you don't succeed...

Yesterday, I was impressed when reviewing Michael's literature answers.

"This is excellent, Michael!"

"I was thinking of you when I did it."

"Ah," feeling so special.

"I was thinking about how you would make me do it over again if I didn't do a good job."

Teaching has several components. I haven't been the best at following up and setting high standards in the past, but that has been one of my focuses this year. At first this was met with some resistance, but it is paying off!

Tonight Derek came to me with a pool inner tube around his waste and informed me he knew what he wanted to be for Halloween. With a smirk on his face he cried, "a hover craft! or maybe a bumper car..." Kindergarten is when they start to get so clever!

Emma was very excited to finally begin French today. She has been wearing her beret since I bought it for her over a week ago. She is also making me so happy by practicing the piano TWO days in a row with out being told!

Megan requested that Nathan and I start going on dates and for me to buy Mac 'n' Cheese, frozen pizza and other quick things so that she can teach Emma how to babysit. We never buy that stuff and I remember when Megan turned 12 how I had to teach her so she would be ready. I know I don't have to say it; it's just a fact. She's awesome.

I was reading about when Derek would talk about America all the time and it reminded me if when we were at the state DI tournament Derek was separated from us.  If your going to lose a kids do it at Disneyland or a DI tournament. All the people there are awesome. The lady that helped him reported to us that he knew his name, his parents' names and he told her he was from America.

I didn't post about DI. Both Megan and Emma's team got to go to state.  Emma's won third there. That was perfect for me because then they wouldn't have to go to nationals. Mike and his partner Jonathan did an amazing job at regionals and were awarded the "Spirit of DI award." I am proud to have been there coach.

Emma and Mike are going to be on the same team this year! Yeah! Not as much running around!

First day - pictures to come -

On the first day, Derek walked through the door of his kindergarten class and then back out to tell me the kids there were too big for him. Then after I reassured him it was fine, he walked back in, only to walk back out again. This time I held his hand and walked with him through that door and to his desk. He had been so excited and confident, but at the last minute a wave of being unsure hit him. I explained to him that his teacher was a very nice lady who would take care of him. I had to do the same today when he had a substitute. He is so sweet. I'm impressed with how he is paying attention to what is going on around him so he is always doing the right thing and informing me of important events. He even remembered to wear red on spirit day without me telling him to. He wants hot lunch next time it is his class's turn to stay at school and has commented that one of his teachers must be a builder because she comes in wearing a construction shirt. (The para-eds wear orange vests while on recess or cross-walk duty. :) ) I miss that guy when he is gone, but he is doing so well and tomorrow, (I guess it's actually today) he gets to stay home with me! I'll have to be sure to spend time with him even though there is so much to do with home school. I've been so busy but I know this is the time he needs extra hugs and reassurance that even though he is growing up he will always be my little boy. He also needs extra sleep! School can take a lot out of a little guy, especially when he is staying up late pondering such deep thoughts about his new academic life. The other day Lizzy kept saying she was older than him and he just didn't know what to do!

Derek's experience was so different from when I dropped the other kids off.  Before, I was always the hesitant one, while they were full of excitement that comes with the first taste of independence. It's hard to leave either way.

Eliza is enjoying the extra attention of being the oldest preschooler at home. I'm looking forward to doing more preschool activities with her when the home school stuff settles down. She loves doing preschool and I am ecstatic that my mom has agreed to teach her and Marcus once a week. I know it will be the best part of her day and she will be looking forward to it all week.

Marian is in Brennan's class! We take the Lewis kids to school each morning.  Kenna has reported that she loves riding the "Ahpa Express". I love watching her and Marian talk as they walk off to their classrooms. Last year she would keep hugging me goodbye and I was never sure if she wanted me to stay or go. Now we skip the hug and may or may not forget to wave and say goodbye as she is too busy in her conversation when we part ways. Reportedly, her signature good behavior is earning her privileges. Of course, it's those quiet ones you've got to look out for. When I went to tuck in the girls a few nights ago, Eliza had a look of terror on her face when she asked me if Santa Clause was a good guy or a bad guy. When I questioned why she would asked, Marian volunteered with a little embarrassed giggle how she had sang her the bad part of the song.  And then, without reserve, she brought her arms up with her fingers curled and in a spooky voice sang, "he sees you when your sleeping, he knows when your awake." She is the most lovable, sweet, pure, interesting girl. Aunt Tallia picks her up from school this year and I miss how she would run with all her might and the bulldoze me over with a hug at the end of the day.

The home school kids are working hard. We are working to get things to run smoother this year, which means we have three computers (thanks Phil and Erin) and they are all connected to the internet (thanks Dad!) and they even are on a network so they can all use the printer. (That is if our printer would stop breaking. Probably time to get a new one, with wireless capabilities.  Why did I stay up so late figuring out how to set up a network?)

I am impressed with their good working attitudes.  Megan's classes didn't start until this week and she was beside herself! She wanted to get started! She was a lot happier today and wants more work. Today I learned when a word is a preposition or an adverb. Ex: "Derek walked through." through is an adverb. Think of it as adding to the verb: walked. "Derek walked through the door." Through is a preposition because it is part of the prepositional phrase: "through the door". Grammar was never a focus in public school when I went. I am so glad I am learning it now. When I began this post I kept thinking about grammar. It's getting too late!

Megan had dreamed about being involved in Drama at the high school just five minutes away from our house, but we are in the boundaries for a high school 15 minutes away. Home school is a huge time commitment so I went through all the hoops to try to get an exception. Since she was only going to be in one class I would have had to stay at the school, with the little kids in the car, hoping the other kids were doing okay with their work, while she was in class. It turns out the school she is supposed to go to doesn't even have a drama class and doesn't produce plays. The school district is still unbending, even though it would mean additional funding for them, a happy voter, and only cost a space in one class that has openings. I've tried everything.  Everyone at both schools are supportive.  It's ridiculous! I feel frustrated because they won't meet with us, won't talk with us on the phone, and from their responses, I don't even think they are reading my e-mails.  In my most recent e-mail I merely asked for advice for how to proceed next year. I even said, "may I please." I received a very curt reply that said, "I've already told you there is nothing I can do, leave me alone." Not really, but that is how I felt.  She didn't even read my e-mail. If our school district is too big and too busy to serve their constituents and do what is best for every child, maybe it is time to divide the district.  That would show them.  Then our whole neighborhood could go to the school down the street.  Note: I had no problem with sending Megan to the other school. It's my Alma Mater and I think it is a fine school.  They just don't offer the class or plays and I find it ridiculous that no one is listening or understanding us. Am I unable to communicate clearly? Hmm...maybe Megan shouldn't go to that school if writers like me are the product. :)

Megan has been a good sport through it all.  Ultimately, we decided to try again next year.  (Which the superintendent would have known if she had read my e-mail! Yes, I'm bitter!) She has a summer birthday and after visiting the high school and seeing the other freshman, I wasn't ready for her to go anyway. We are considering options like hiring a lawyer or taking her to another city for that class and plays.  I shake my head in disbelief knowing that we are paying taxes to our district and I will have to leave during the school day to drive her over a half an hour away when there is an amazing program down the street.  I know I sound like a silly mom but Megan's dream is to be a drama teacher. She has put on several productions with her cousins and neighbor kids. I want her to be able to be a part of a group in high school like I was in band.  Enough ranting.  All will work out. Oh, one more thing: students who want to take shop are allowed to transfer. The injustice of it all just makes me want to scream! Okay, now I'm dramatic.

I'll write more about Emma's and Michael's partnership activities later.