Our Week in Review and Other Miscelaneous Stuff

Well I know you are all probably thinking how tacky it is to celebrate your blog anniversary and then promptly stop posting, but allergies have been blowing in like gangbusters and just getting the basics done was all I seemed to have the energy for. I noticed on lots of other blogs they are celebrating the fall festivals and what-have-you, but it's still too hot to attend any outdoor events around here. It's still in the high 90's with no relief in sight, so I assure you, we've been inside. The only thing Ike has done for us is blow in lots of debris so that breathing clear clean air is no longer something we can take for granted. Oh, well.


Despite all that, school went very good this week. Baby Boy is working just as hard as ever:

• We finished our first literature book, Cameron Townsend. It's a true story about a man who dedicates his life to having the New Testament of the Bible translated into every language. We usually don't do a lot of religious reading, but I thought this book was important because it showed how one person can make a difference in the world if he puts his mind to it and it also is an incredible story of determination and perseverance. Those are the kind of qualities that will take you far no matter what religious preference you are, even if you have no religious preference at all.
  

• We completed the first chapter and test of our algebra 2 curriculum. It was mostly review from algebra 1. Baby Boy did excellent, only missing one question. I'm so glad to see that even though we took a year off between algebra 1 and 2 to do geometry, he hasn't forgotten everything. Frankly, I was extremely worried about that.

• We are loving our History of US series for U. S. history, although we did ditch our first reader, Peace Child. I don't know what to say about this book, except neither of us liked it. I know I'm not supposed to model to Baby Boy that it's all right to quit something when it gets unpleasant, but I was just. plain. done. with this book. It has some pretty graphic descriptions of ritualistic killings and cannibalism, which didn't really bother Baby Boy or myself too much, to be honest, but may disturb more sensitive readers. The writing style is just not pleasant and very hard to keep up with. I don't recommend it at all.
  

• Chemistry is by far Baby Boy's favorite subject. My head is swimming with conversion methods and factors as we convert liquid and regular (I don't know what word to use, ask Baby Boy) units from our measuring system to the metric system. Baby Boy really has a knack for it. Shoot! I have to go online and use a conversion calculator to check his work. So sad when the student is so much smarter than the teacher. We also did a lab experiment on volume, mass and density. I have some photos . . . see . . .

Baby Boy doing some handy dandy calculations while simultaneously destroying my kitchen.

The finished project: Layering maple syrup, water, and vegetable oil . . . oh my!

• By far the most interesting subject is driver's education. We aren't using a set curriculum, just going it alone with a little help from some online tools provided by the Department of Public Safety. I gotta tell you, I've been driving for a while, and I really didn't know there were so many rules! I usually just try to stay away from cops, but now I'm learning all over again how it's really supposed to be done, LOL.
  

Our new bible ;-)

And that's all in school related news.


In other news, we had a small little dinner celebration because these two people . . .


. . . our daughter and her significant other-boyfriend-common law husband-baby's daddy-or whatever have finally started getting their act together and starting to really (as in not lying about) put some money together to put a deposit on their very own apartment. Mom #2 and I are both excited and nervous for them, but it's always best for parents to be in their own space with their own children. Especially since their current living arrangements usually have them separated from the baby for various reasons.


Let's all hope, pray, chant, send good vibes, or whatever your personal preference is that this really happens for these kids. For all of our sake.


Speaking of the baby, she has gotten so big! She eats like nobody's business. I'll close out with a picture of her, why not, who doesn't love baby pictures? We were wearing our matching green ensembles that day, because we love each other so very very much, LOL.

I think that's all I have to say about this past week. I'll try not to let it get away from me for so long for next time, but as you know, no promises. ;-)


I hope everyone had a great week as well, and a wonderful relaxing weekend planned!


Until next time . . .

Belated Or Not ~ I'm Taking My Moment!

Guess what? SabrinaT reminded me that last Wednesday, the 17th was my. . .

BLOG ANNIVERSARY!

Can you believe it? I've lasted a whole year. I know it isn't very long and most of you have been going a LOT longer, but I'm still very happy.


All of my blogging friends, that's y'all over there --> in the sidebar, and a few I haven't added yet) are the most understanding, compassionate, witty, hilarious, and supportive group I've ever known. I've learned so much about life from all of you: when to laugh it off; when to shamelessly cry about it; when to say "The heck with it;" and when to stand up and do something about it. I've gone through some interestingly good and some pathetically bad times in this year, and I appreciate you sticking it all out with me.


Thanks!


I know this isn't a blog of great relevance or substance, but I do have fun doing it. I love reading all of your blogs, and I hope you'll stick around and read mine some more . . . you know . . . when I get off my lazy butt and post something. ;-)


But isn't that half the fun? You just never know when that inspiration is going to hit, LOL!


Thanks again ladies, (and Jason, and Hula Hank) Love you all!


Until next time . . .

Day 1 . . . A Success!

I had such a great day today that I just had to jump up and down!


Today was our first day back to school. I was really dreading it because our summer break has been sooooooooo nice, but to be totally honest, I was starting to feel a little useless. I've been sleeping later and later and getting less and less done throughout the day. I was really needing a sense of purpose. I actually LOVE home schooling . . . I love learning with the Baby Boy!


But let's not just start there . . . I had a pretty descent weekend. Of course, I'll share. ;-)


Saturday was my Dad's birthday and we had a little luncheon for him to remind him how much we love him. I was not really looking forward to it because my father is one of those people who actually enjoys complaining about everything. If everything is fine, he is not happy. He gets his kicks being difficult. But he was in a great mood, much to my surprise and amazement. It was extra fun because my niece always seems to be having a "Daddy's weekend" whenever we get together, but she was with us and the two best cousins in the world got a chance to hang out and talk and eat . . . teen/tweenagers' favorite past times.



We watched lots of Hurricane Ike coverage on television, which isn't actually fun . . . but lots and lots and lots of teachable moments. Mom #2 has some family members in the Houston area that chose to ride it out (PLEASE don't ask me why, I simply cannot explain it) instead of evacuating. Turns out they are alive and well, even though the don't have any power and aren't expected to have any for a while. They are good and stubborn so they insist on sticking it out . . . more power to them . . . I'm done with the situation.


Alive . . . good. Dead . . . bad. They're alive, so it's all good to me.


On the flip side, Ike has brought us the most beautiful day we've had in months. 75 degrees was the HIGH today. Yippee! Baby Boy and I took Baby Doggy on an extra long walk today just to celebrate. It was fabulous!


And back to my original thought, school went great today. I was afraid Baby Boy was going to be obstinate and resist getting back into our routine, but he jumped right in with both feet, and didn't give me a stitch of trouble.


We took our Annual First Day of School Photo.



Then we did a little math, vocabulary, literature, and American history so we could save the best for last.


Then your two favorite chemists . . .


Did a few fun labs to prove that although you can't see the air around you, it most certainly does have mass and take up space.



After that, Baby Boy challenged me to a game of Mario Kart Wii and of course beat my butt under the table . . . but I'm in such a good mood . . . I'm not even going to practice on the down-low after he goes to bed tonight. I'm going to LET HIM HAVE IT.


Believe me, if you knew how competitive I was, you'd know what a great mood I'd have to be in to let that slide, LOL.


I hope you all are having a great day too!


Until next time . . .

Take A Hike, Ike!

So far the beach is washing away and some beach houses are already filled with water and Ike is still several hours off shore.

Galveston is below sea level and it doesn't take much water to fill it up. With the rain they've been having they already have more water than they can bare.

I know there are a few ridiculous souls who simply refuse to evacuate, while others feel they have good reason to stay and hold down the fort. This is not the time to be a hero.


Get out. Be safe. Live. Evacuate.

Unless, of course, you are a storm chaser. Here's a little video of what was going on a little earlier this afternoon, before the storm hit. This guy is certifiable, but I LOVE his reports.

And for those of you who are like me and never waste a good teachable moment, or you just like to read about natural disasters like Baby Boy and me, look here for a little information on the big Galveston Hurricane on September 8, 1900.

To all my Gulf Coast cyber buddies . . . be safe.


Until next time . . .

The Family That Vacations Together . . .

Oh, I'm back from a nice long week of fun in the sun. I have mixed feelings, of course, it's always nice to be home after a long trip away, but the beach is such a delicious get-a-way that it makes you want to stay there forever and ever.

This was an extremely unique vacation experience for us. Usually just the three of us go, with Baby Doggy in tow, but this time the in-laws invited us to go with them on vacation. I was pretty weary of the whole set-up from Jump Street, but Mom #2 insisted everyone could be on their best behavior for a week.

So just to recap, the vacation includes: Mom-in-law, Pop-in-law, two Bros-in-laws, along with Mom #2, Baby Boy, Baby Doggy, and myself. We did manage to get our own beach house for
just our little family while the two bros-in-law stayed with their folks since they are both single.

Now let me just explain the difference in our family dynamics. Mom #2’s family is a very traditional Hispanic family: Dad sits in the recliner, Godfather style, and demands everyone do what he says, when he says, and how he says. Family members shuck and jive to keep the peace.

Our family unit is run a little differently: Mom #2 and I hash out discuss everything and try to come to some resemblance of a compromise and even solicit Baby Boy’s opinion on what he may or may not want to do IF we’re in a good mood.

Even with this major contradiction in leadership styles, everyone did manage to behave themselves and there wasn’t too much tension other than a few ill-scheduled fishing trips (which Baby Boy simply did not attend), one extremely tense lunch, a few murmured, “Why don’t y'all just eat when Dad and I eat?” And a three person family decision to come home a day early just so we could spend a little time alone on the highway, LOL. Oh, the joys of extended family.

As you can see from the photos above . . . we officially survived our Summer Vacation 2008.

Baby Boy and I are officially getting back to learning on Monday . . . so I’m just going to try to
get all of my last minute lesson planning and preparations done for the rest of this week, and of course, catch up on my blog reading. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time . . .

Having A Fabulous Time . . .

. . . wish you were here!






Oh, P.S.

Blogger totally deleted my blog roll for some reason. I recreated it to the best of my feeble ability, but I have to admit I've been lazy about just adding people to the blog roll without bookmarking the actual blog . . . so . . . if you were over there on the sidebar and now you're not, just leave me a comment and I'll add you. It was an honest, non-malicious mistake.


See you in a bit!


Until next time . . .

Labor Day Traditions ;-)

Every since I was a little girl, every single Labor Day weekend my sister and I have had our shared birthday party. I despised this. Hated it. Longed for my autonomy. Unfortunately, in a working class family such as mine, if there was to be a party at all, I assure you, it would be a shared one.

I was born three years minus three days before Little-Miss-Steal-My-Thunder.

What’s so funny is now we voluntarily carry on this tradition.

Even though I have “officially” stopped celebrating birthdays and I really get cranky over anything that smacks of a birthday party, a little family get-together that better may or may not include gifts for my sister and myself is perfectly all right with me.

This year was no different.

My Little Thunder Stealer

Having fun . . . maybe a little too much


Gift certificates . . . my FAVORITE!


The Whole Gang

We got together at a little restaurant and had lunch and exchanged gifts and reminded each other that even though we argued every single day of the first 25 years of knowing each other, we’re now both mothers and great friends and we really enjoy celebrating the event of both of our births.

Have a great birthday holiday weekend!

Until next time . . .