Almost December

I hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We did. I ate entirely too much food which, I suppose, is the whole point of Thanksgiving. Well, unless you want to be thankful and remember all of God’s goodness which, I agree, is the main point of Thanksgiving.

Anyway, however you want to view Thanksgiving I still ate too much food.

We had my husband’s mother here for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have both my parents and his mother here for the day. Since my mother-in-law lives on the other side of the country, it is a big deal when we are all together.

I did feel a little bad for Freckle Face and My Girl because they had to share the piano bench at the table.  They complained a little, but they got over it soon enough once we were passing around the food.

I don’t make anything fancy. I have  the most boring Thanksgiving dinner in the US, and the family likes it that way. I make turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, cranberry sauce, and jello. Sometimes we have sweet potatoes, but that is only if we happen to have company that will help me eat them. I don’t make green bean casserole, and I aplogize if I offend, but cream of mushroom soup and green beans just shouldn’t be combined. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.

I went Black Friday shopping with my mother-in-law. We had a good time. I managed to get a few good deals. For a change, we went to Fred Meyer first. We don’t go for the 1/2 price socks that everyone else seems to want, so I didn’t have to crawl over anyone. What is it with those 1/2 price socks? People seem to love that deal. We hit JcPenney’s later, that had them 60% off. So Fred Meyer wasn’t the better deal, but people still go there for the socks anyway. FM was giving out free coffee and donuts. They do score a 10 for hospitality. I love Black Friday shopping. It makes  me feel all Christmasy.

Tree is up. My house has vomited Christmas, and I love it. It makes me feel all warm and happy inside. It almost makes all the homeschooling that we need to do bearable.  But just almost.

Yesterday was also the first Sunday in Advent. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.

My girl

My girl is growing up so much. I feel like I have neglected her lately with all this talk of Freckle Face and the Freshman. Yesterday we went to Leavenworth, and she was the only one that wanted anything to do with the camera. She took some great pictures for us, and I was able to convince her to share the spotlight with me a little. I think that she is going to become our offical photographer of the family.

Here are a couple of her pictures

And this one of the mountains

Here is my girl

And she wanted her picture taken with me. Is that love or what?

A new smile

Today was the big day! The braces came off. He is one happy teenager. The orthodontist gave him a huge, carmel coated apple and a bunch of helium balloons. He gave me the balloons, but I really wanted the carmel apple.

He looks great. So today we are celebrating with salt water taffy and a great big Mt. Dew. He tells me that taffy never tasted so good.

Too much toe walking

Aren’t they the cutest kids? You wouldn’t know by looking at this picture that he is a toe walking trouble maker, would you?

He went to the physical therapist today because he has been developing blisters on the insides of his feet. We know why it is happening. It is partly because he doesn’t tie his shoes tight enough to keep his feet from slipping around and partly because his feet slip around because he walks with such force on his toes.

He doesn’t go regularly for physical therapy anymore. (which has now proven detrimental) We mostly go when problem arise. Problems like blisters.  It has come to attention today that Freckle Face is tight again. Very tight. Tight enough that the past 3 years of botox and AFO’s have been almost for naught. Can I tell you how frustrating that is?

Here is what we are looking at according to the physical therapist. He is recommending either serial casting again or surgery. Of course, Freckle Face still needs to see the orthopedic surgeon, and the more I think about it, I think I want him to see Dr. C, the physiatrist, again before I make any decisions. It is just a matter of getting the proper referrals and all that. My husband wants firm answers before we procede. I am wondering if we will ever get firm answers. I just don’t think they know.

I, on the other hand, am ready for surgery. I didn’t think that I would be, but I am. The bummer is that it will be a few weeks in casts and then intensive physical therapy. Basically, he will need to relearn how to walk correctly. It sounds like fun times, doesn’t it? We will also have to be vigilant that he doesn’t start walking on his toes again. I do think it is time. I realize that 12 would have been a better age to avoid growth spurts, but he can’t get his feet flat again. What kind of damage is he doing to his balance and muscles while we wait? Yes, I am ready.

This is what happens with too much toe walking. The tendon get tights and before you know it, the tendon is too short and the heel can not go flat. Yes, they can grow out of it. My older two did, but they are still very tight. My oldest can not touch his toes. For those that come here looking for answers, do not let the doctor brush you off. Stretch, stretch and stretch some more for starters, and keep pushing them to give you answers.

Random stuff

We are out of toilet paper. How does one run out of toilet paper? (yes, I am going to the store in a minute)

The freshman bought me a Diet Pepsi today with HIS OWN MONEY!  I sent him to the store for milk. Actually, I begged and pleaded for him to go to the store for me, and he still comes back with a diet Pepsi for me. How cool is that?

The 3rd declension is still kicking my behind. I am getting better about which nouns go with with declension, but now we have moved into adjectives. It is really a pain that I don’t know my 3rd declension very well.

I have been playing lots of Christmas music on the piano. I am really working on my Jim Brickman pieces. The freshman is working on “Linus and Lucy”. It is fun to listen to that.

I did 4 loads of laundry today and I am still NOT done. I think we have too many clothes. No one should have that much laundry in the house. 

It is not fun driving on I-5 through Seattle at night in the rain.

And just for an extra bonus my girl has informed me that Christmas is only 43 days away. I really need to get in the game.

 

 

Book thoughts

 

Today was library day. We don’t have a set library day. We just go when we have run out of books to read.  Some days at the library are wonderful. I find so many books that I want that I can’t carry them all. Some days I can’t find anything worth reading. Today was one of those days.

My library has a bad habit of letting books sit in carts after they have been checked in but before they are reshelved. It is the best way to find books. Usually I can find a new release that I have been wanting to read there before it even has a chance to hit the shelf. Today, I didn’t have much luck.

Even if I don’t find any books for myself, I still like to see what other people have been checking out.  Today I noticed quite a few vampire books. No surpise there. And someone must be trying to sell their house by themselves. There were a few of how to sell your house books on the cart. James Patterson books always seem to be on these carts. I can’t decide if I like James Patterson or not. I think that I just have to be in the mood for his writing. Sometimes I am really surprised how well he writes from a woman’s point of view. 

I did grab a couple of Christmas books. I like to flip through the pages and fantasize how beautiful I am going to make my house this Christmas. I found some beautiful items to make as gifts that I am not going to make and a few delicious sounding recipes that I am not going to make either, but it sure is fun to pretend.  I did see a knitting book that almost made me want to knit. Almost.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see anything that I wanted to read for entertainment. I picked up The German Bride by Joanna Hershon. I have never read anything of hers. I do like to try new authors. I am really looking for a good story. I want to get lost in a story. It has been awhile that I have been lost. I want to stay awake until 2 am reading. I haven’t found a book that has made me want to do that in awhile. I am finding that the books I am picking up are too predictable. I am five chapters into it and I already know how it ends. If it is going to be predictable, it needs to have a unique story line to keep me focused. I don’t think it is the fault of the writer. I am just very distractable these days.

Anyone read anything good lately?

 

Saturday Mom Confession

I am sorry that I have not been posting. I took a picture the other day that pretty much sums up how I have been feeling.

Yes, I have been entirely gastropodish. Isn’t that an awesome word? Gastropod. If you say it to your 8 year old son he will think of something entirely different than the yellow-green slimy thing pictured above and he will laugh hysterically. I am not sure if that is a banana slug. I thought banana slugs had black spots, but I am surely not a gastropod expert. I may have no idea what I am talking about at all.

 I do know that my dad used to pay me a penny for every black one that I killed. I would slice them in half with a shovel and watch their guts run out. And look how “green” my dad was! No chemicals for my dad. Just give the kids a shovel and send them off to work. Ah, the more memorable days of my childhood. (Dad, I think you still owe me a couple of bucks, by the way) You don’t want the black ones anyway. They eat your garden. I never did pour salt on them. It just seemed like an awful way to perish even  for a gastropod. (Man, I am just loving that word!)

So, that is how I have felt about blogging lately. I really do want to write more. I just needed a little break.

And now, for the real mom confession of the week ….

I let my kids gorge themselves on their halloween candy. They eat until it is gone and I don’t have to worry about it anymore. I tried the rationing bit. You know, the “just two pieces a day” plan. But then, I had to listen to them asking me every 10 minutes if they could have “just one more piece of candy”. So, problem solved. Eat the candy. Get it out of my house. When it is gone. It is gone.

One week is all it took, and now I don’t have to worry about candy again until Christmas.

More early thoughts on high school

Can you stand another one of these posts? I have had a few days off. It was a planned mini vacation. The kids enjoyed a little break from the books. So did I. I have been thinking some more on high school and how stressful homeschooling high school can be. I have had another small lightbulb moment.

If my children are  successful am I making that my success? Or, I can turn it around. If they are not successful, is that my failure? What is successful? Is it my job to define their success? That is what hit me.

Am I so worried that if my kids don’t get into the “right” college that their life is going to be over and it is going to be all my fault? That it will ruin all their chance at happiness?  Or, I can turn that one around too. If they get into the “right” college then I have been an awesome homeschooling mother and can hold my head high.

I need to quit wrapping my own self-worth into their school work. I already graduated from high school. I am going to study. I am going to memorize my 4th and 5th declensions. I am going to make sure that I can do the math. I am going to read and critique their papers. I am not going weep and blame myself if they fail their math test. I teach them everyday. I am available to answer questions and facilitate their learning. At some point they have to want it.

 When they figure out what it is they want, I will be here to help them with that. Until then, they have to do what I say. (insert evil, maniacal laugh) I hope they figure it out soon.

A plug for my hubby

Do you watch college football? I don’t, but my husband does.  A lot.

He has been ranking the college football teams for awhile now using his own mathematical system. I don’t get it much. I think he got tired of sharing it with his less than enthusiastic wife, so he started blogging about it. If you like, hop on over there and give him a hit. If you like college football, bookmark it and discuss the rankings with him. He would love it, and you would take the pressure off of me.

I’m Taking Over

Saturday Mom Confession

Did I have a mom confession last week? I don’t remember. This week was such a blur. Trip to the mountains, sick kids, Latin, and hormonal imbalances. It all kind of runs together.

My confession this week is a no brainer, but it is something that I struggle with a lot and bears repeating.

 I spend way too much time worrying about what other mothers are doing with their children.

In some respects I am getting better. I don’t check out other math cirriculums because someone mentions how well such and such is working for their child. I don’t feel guilty that my kids haven’t won a trophy playing Little League. I am also not concerned that they are happy to sit and watch reruns of Spongebob on a fairly regular basis.

Unfortunately, I struggle with plenty. So-and-so’s kids took writing classes from such-and-such a person and they won an essay prize.  I wonder if I shouldn’t put my kid in the class. Man, it would be SO nice to let someone else grade their writing.

 OR 

Mary Beth’s kids are so driven. What does she do? Why are my kids content to spend their entire free day playing the Wii? What am I doing wrong?

You know. Stuff like that.

Maybe instead of worrying about what Mary Jane’s kids are doing, I should go buy Rock Band and play a little Wii with my kids. Maybe instead of worrying that my kids may not (notice that I don’t say never) win an essay contest, I should be thrilled that they are having a blast writing comic strips. I need to get over myself and let my kids be my kids. They are awesome! I love being with them and am proud of them. I need to step back, enjoy the ride, and let them be who they will be.

And for all that is beautiful and good, I need to quit worrying about what Genie Noseblower’s kids are doing. I just need to chill out!