Notes from the Trenches, Vol. 6

This week was good, but Thursday was rough.  We learned this week that school belongs in the *morning* and errands belong in the *afternoon*.  Flipping it around results in not much work getting done.

Robbie got his new math book, Saxon 1, which he loves, but I find very complicated for a kids' math book.  However, Saxon is tough and it works, so we're sticking with it.  We are also almost at the halfway point in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and he loves it.  Also, he's reading more on his own and writing notes, so it's working as well.  Religion is also going very, very well.

Bri is working through work books of her own volition.  Girl has quite a head on her shoulders.  She's also absorbing quite a bit from her brother's lessons, which is going to put her ahead of the curve.  No complaints here.

Marty is doing okay with his busy bags, but he loves his oral work best.

Kitty is finally getting used to the new school room set up and isn't destroying hardly anything at this point, also a win.

Ellie has been sleeping in the morning, which I love, but I wonder how long it's going to last.  We shall see.

This week I start my teaching classes from home, so that may or may not put a kink in our plans.

This is what a week of school work/prep looks like.

And that's all from the trenches this week, folks!  Stay busy and happy!

Notes from the Trenches, Vol. 5, New Baby Edition

We started school again this week, picking up on the last lesson plan sheet.  The first three days went well.  We stumbled on Thursday, partly because it was a Holy Day of Obligation and partly because it appears that number five is the Baby who Never Stops Nursing.  

So, next week I'll be better prepared for the one-handed challenge of it all ("I can do this homeschooling thing with one hand tied behind my back, sort of!")

Also, I'm ordering some new stuff, which I will be reviewing when the Baby who Never Stops Nursing naps, if that ever happens.

So, once more into the lesson planning breach, dear friends!

Til next week, stay happy!

This is my new vice principle.  

She has some concerns about my lesson plans.

FIVE!

Please welcome our newest blessing, Elanora Anne.

Notes from the Trenches, Vol. 4

School cancelled this week on account of heat wave and early labor stages (which in my case have been known to last for weeks, so we'll see).

I plan.  God laughs.

When Blessing #5 arrives, I will post pics.

And that's all from the trenches this week.

In This Moment

Friday we don't usually "do" school.  I plan on getting the other stuff done on the first four days of the week.

Today, I was planning on a big meal prep session.  You can read more about that here.

Anyhow, my mom brought over my sisters who played with my kids while mom and I did meal prep (I come from a family of saints... did you know?  Not me, but everyone else).  After  a morning of hard work, I put on a cartoon for my kids and figured I'd veg out on the couch catching up on my social networks.  my back was spasming and I was *tired*.

So I went to sit next down to my 16 month old, Little K.  She threw herself across the couch, right where I was planning on sitting. Then she giggled hysterically.  "Okay," I thought.

I sat down next to her anyway.  This time, she threw herself into my arms, before I even had a chance to glance at my email.

Now, little K is my miracle baby.  She had to be induced, at six weeks she was sick in the hospital, and only in the last few months has she blossomed into an independent, sassy almost-toddler.

Usually she wants down, she wants to get into things, she wants to be trashing her clothes and doing her own thing, which is great.

On the day that I wanted a quiet moment, however, she wanted to play.

I didn't want to play.  I wanted to check Facebook.

And then it occurred to me.  She isn't going to be the "baby" for much longer.  A few weeks at most, and then she'll be the big sister.  And right now, in this moment, she wants to be my baby.  She wants to kiss and cuddle.  She wants to be tickled and hugged.  And, because we wouldn't have too many more of these moments, I gave her what she wanted.

So, here she is, today, in this moment.  My baby.

Because babies grow too fast.

Notes from the Trenches, Vol. 3

In the interest of full disclosure, this week was a low point for us, school-wise.

We did school on Monday.  Everything on the lesson plan.  The kids even got all their chores done afterwards.

On Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment that ate our school time.

On Wednesday I was exhausted, uncomfortable and hot. The little ones all felt hot and Marty threw up, so we had a sick day.  I let it slide.

Today I spent the morning shopping for a major meal prep event tomorrow, so school time was spent at Grandma's house.

While this week was weak on school, the amount of artwork and imaginative play generated has been stellar, not to mention the socialization time spent with their relatives.  So, it wasn't a complete loss.  It never really is.

Next week is a new week.

And that's all from the trenches.

5 Favorites: Babiez mayk u dum edition

Thanks to the lovely Hallie for hosting!

5 Favorites: Babiez Mayk U Dum Edition

I'm 36 weeks pregnant and counting the days.  I know not everyone gets this fun pregnancy symptom, but I get major brain drain, especially during the third trimester.  So, my memory goes, my grasp of English is greatly reduced and I have trouble concentrating on anything (including books written for kids.  Yeah, it's bad).

1. Roku box

My kids have a mild flu, so we're having a sick day.  They're tired and cranky and still getting over a super eventful week last week.  So, they're being allowed a bit more screen time than usual.  My roku box lets me stream Dinosaur Train from Netflix online to my vintage TV.  There are other shows, too, but Dinosaur Train is the current favorite with the four different ages. The peace is priceless and the kids "buy" another episode with a chore, so it's not like they're vegging out for uninterrupted hours.

2. Pinterest, again.

This time I'm crowdsourcing my meal planning to all the smart blogging ladies who do freezer meals that go into the crock pot.  I'm going to be spending the next couple days putting up some freezer meals for those hazy post-baby days.  I'm starting with this smart lady who introduced me to the method and branching out to browse all the other possibilities out there.  I have a round up of these recipes on my pinterest board "survival recipes" along with my other school year, mom of many, super quick and easy recipes.

3. my laptop
What other device lets me stay in touch with my buddies, helps me make meal plans and recipes, runs my homeschooling lesson plans, and lets me bid on getting my mom the perfect "thank you" gift?  I love my twenty-first century tech.

4. my list app on my phone
Since I have no memory left, I have to write down *everything*.  I have so many lists and checklists I would never be able to keep them in the same place without the kids finding and destroying my stack... so I have them all on my phone.  Grocery lists, chore lists, reminders, they're all in the same place.

5. smart kids
Not just my smart kids, who are great helpers when I'm in the "ooohhh, that's a Braxton Hicks contraction and I'm going to be on the couch for a bit now" stage of the third tri.  My smart, college-kid sister comes over for a couple hours every day and brings my smart youngest sister.  Between the two of them, my house stays clean and my kids are entertained.  Surrounding myself with smart people when I'm feeling intellectually vulnerable has been so comforting.