Husband, Dad, Mechanical Engineer, Bass
Player ...
Obsessed with all things Engineering.
AMY
Wife, Homeschool Mom, Webmaster ...
Obsessed with all things Political.
RACHAEL
Daughter, Sister, Sophomore ...
Obsessed with all things Geological.
NICHOLAS
Son, Brother, 8 year old ...
Obsessed with all things Historical.
(especially Egyptian!)
Favorite Books/Curriculum
The Well-Trained Mind Singapore Math Greenleaf Guides Apologia Science AIG Science curriculum Story of the World
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Day 28 - Headin' off to Paradise ... Big Sur, HERE WE COME!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
We're flying into the LA area and driving up the coast to San Jose. After 6 nights in San Jose, 2 nights in San Francisco, & then 2 nights in Hollywood we'll be heading home. This is our 1st major vacation (not related to Jeff's work) in a LONG time. I'll be computer-free for the trip since my laptop is broken. I don't think I've been without a computer for this long since about 1994! I'll be in withdrawal!
We have a 5 hr. ride to the airport, followed by a 5 hr. plane ride, followed by an 8 hr. drive in CA. Please pray for our safety and sanity!!!
This will be my last post until we get back. I'll have LOTS of pictures by then!
Rachael took this photo the other day at the Creation Museum. I thought it was cute! Of course, I'm a sucker for reptiles. I had iguanas in college and before I got married. Unfortunately, Jeff doesn't share my affinity!
Today we went ice-skating with the local homeschooling group. We took my childless sister who was none too fond of the huge crowd of kids! Then we went to my mom's house for dinner and MORE cake and ice cream!
Today is Rachael's 11th Birthday. We took the day off from schoolwork (something we do every year ... yet another homeschool perk!) and Rachael made her own birthday cake (she insisted!) Jeff's parents went to Rachael's Taekwon-do with us, then we went to Pizza Hut with his dad for dinner followed by cake at his mom & dad's house.
Jeff's parents gave her $50 cash, but his dad gave her a separate card with another $50 cash in it for her to spend on our upcoming vacation. He also gave Nick $20. Lucky kids!
Today we slept in after yesterday's long journey. We got up and headed to the church for what Rachael thought was a playdate. When everyone arrived, Diana & Darla surprised her with a birthday cake and presents from the kids. She was so stunned! What would we do without our awesome homeschool friends?!?! They have been such a blessing these past few years!
We went to the Creation Museum and the Newport Aquarium today with fellow homeschool friend Diana, her mom, & her sons, Thomas & Ross. We were told that it would only take about 3-4 hours to get through the Creation Museum so we thought we'd have plenty of time to make it to the aquarium. Well, it took us 5 1/2 hrs. at the museum! It was so much fun! The kids loved the animatronic dinosaurs and the adults loved all of the information. We ended up having a little over an hour to run through the aquarium. It was fun, nonetheless. It was a long day and we spent the night at our friend Darla's house.
We've been getting packed to go to the Creation Museum. We're heading off at 4:00am tomorrow morning. I'm meeting fellow homeschool mom and friend, Diana, her mom, and her two children, Thomas & Ross. We're going to try to hit the Newport Aquarium, too. Then we're going to spend the night at another friend and fellow homeschooler's house. Darla (Gracie's mom) is having a surprise pre-birthday breakfast for Rachael and invite a bunch of our other homeschool friends. She's going to be so excited!!!! What would I do without our awesome homeschool group?!?!
I didn't take any pictures today, so I figured I'd post one of my favorite old pictures of Rachael since her birthday is coming up in a few days...
We went to church today and then went shopping. Since I didn't have my camera with me, I had to find something to take a picture of when I got home. This chandelier is hanging in our dining room. It was one of the first things we purchased when we bought the house and started to fix it up. I'm still trying to convince Jeff that we need to take it with us when we move, but I don't think he's quite convinced...
Jeff fixed Nick's hair this morning. It's sort of hard to see, but he fixed it the same way his hair was always done as a boy. It was funny, but cute!
Nick was intently studying a book in the back seat. Upon closer inspection, I realized he was "reading" one of Jeff's old college engineering books - Vector Dynamics. Oh no ... not another Engineer in the making!!!!! ;-D
You cannot find a room in our home that is not "decorated" with these paper cutouts. Rachael has been making these things ever since she started using scissors. To an outsider, it probably looks rather bizarre. She doesn't use crayons or markers, she doesn't use colored paper...
We've gotten so used to seeing new ones "pop up" with each coming holiday that we really don't think twice about them until someone comes over and wonders why we have cut up paper all over our house!
Oh well, it's just another peculiar element of the Rachael that we love! ;-D
Rachael tries out some of her newly learned self defense techniques on her dad. Most of her Taekwon-do class today revolved around different techniques you can use to escape a would-be captor...
Please pray for Madeline's family. The following was written by her parents ...
Wednesday January 16, 2008 We are crushed today. Last night Madeline's pupils failed to react to light, so an emergency CT scan was ordered. The image revealed that Maddie's precious little brain had hemorrhaged and was severely swollen. We were hoping and praying for good news, but the opposite came. Maddie was pronounced brain dead last night just past midnight. We said goodbye and took her off of all life support and she died peacefully in our arms at 10:15 this morning. We are stunned and speechless. Our hearts are broken, and we are so very sorry to have to announce this news to all of you faithful and beautiful people. Today the King of Kings welcomed our princess home. The worst day of our lives was the best day of hers. We are on the way home right now to let Anna & Sam down. They love their baby sister more than words can express, so this will be a hard one. Please pray for peace for our family in the weeks ahead. Leaving the hospital today was like leaving our best friends. Every day for six months, the staff was our family, and then in one day it was all gone. There is joy somewhere in all of this, but I cannot see it yet. I am praying for that clarity.
Rachael had her first Taekwon-do class this evening. I think she was a little overwhelmed, but she had a great instructor who helped her out. She really enjoyed it and is looking forward to her next class on Thursday. Note: This is a borrowed uniform just to have her ID picture taken. Hers should arrive in a week or so...
We broke out the train set that my mom bought Nick for Christmas. Rachael & I had fun putting the track together while Nick lined up all the trees, people, & signs in a perfect line! (yes, I think he does have a touch of OCD ...!)
After reading two blogs talking about new haircuts, I decided mine was long overdue. I went to a local salon to get my hair trimmed and layered. As the stylist was looking at my hair, she said, "You know ... if you just cut a little more off, you could donate it to Locks of Love." (they make wigs for children with cancer and other diseases which cause hair loss). She also told me that the haircut is free if you donate ... double bonus!!!
Well, she ended up taking A LOT more off, but it was for a good cause!
I don't have a good "Before" picture, but my hair was about halfway down my back. Here are the "After" pictures ...
Since we missed the South Carolina Republican primary debate live, we decided to watch the repeat several hours later. Rachael got all snuggled up on the couch wrapped in her Daddy's shirt. She made it until nearly 2:00am when she couldn't hold out any longer! We had an amazing time discussing the candidates and their positions. I love hearing her thoughts and insights. She'll be sleeping in tomorrow morning, but that's okay ... you could say we started school around midnight. ;-D
Rachael went to a Christian school for Kindergarten. I remember staying out really late one night at a campaign rally. There was no way that I was going to send my 5 year old to school with only a few hours of sleep. However, without a doctor's excuse, any absence was 'unexecused' - no matter what the reason. Even though we paid a lot of money to send her to a private school, our parental rights were over once she stepped through the doorway. Don't get me wrong, it was a great school. I am just a firm believer that a lot of great learning happens outside the 8-3 timeframe AND outside of the classroom.
Of course, Nick made it all the way through the debate! (However, I don't think he got too much out of the political banter!)
Jeff came home last night bearing gifts. He bought a surprise cake to celebrate Nick's first official day of reading lessons. He also bought soft drinks, which is something we rarely buy unless we have company. (What can I say? I'm a cheapskate.... tea is cheaper!)
Rachael was sick last night and all day today. Unfortunately, that left our school schedule by the wayside on day 3. On the plus side, I did get a lot of cleaning finished!
Day 8 - She Freezes, He Breezes (through his reading lesson!)
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
This was Rachael's method of trying to convince me to turn up the heat this morning. (Creative, but unsuccessful!)
On a more exciting front ... Nick successfully completed his first "real" reading lesson!
We've been working with letter sounds for several months, but today he was reading real words! He called Jeff at work and said, "Daddy! I read 12 words all by myself! Are you proud of me?"
Of course the joyous celebration was cut short when he proceeded to poop in his pants (Nick, not Jeff) Anyway, at least I'll have a literate (albeit incontinent) son entering college in a few years!
We started school again today after a really long Christmas break. It actually went amazingly well! After looking through all of the other homeschool blogs, I always see these beautifully organized areas. Well, sadly, mine looks more like this throughout the day!
On a side note, Nick has a fever. Hopefully it will be over by morning ...
The Mice will PLAY!!!! When Rachael left, she gave Nick explicit instructions NOT to play in her chair while she was gone for the weekend. She received it for Christmas and didn't want him to mess it up. Check out the mischievous grin as he climbed in!
Jeff took this picture of the church where we were married. It was dark and freezing cold, but I wanted a picture, so he braved it for me!
It's called The Old Cathedral in Vincennes, Indiana. It's the oldest church in the state and is attached to the oldest library in the state. On the grounds, there is also a cemetery full of Revolutionary War veterans & an amazing George Rogers Clark Memorial, along with a beautiful bridge overlooking the river. During the siege of Fort Sackville (February 23–24, 1779), Clark’s men took up positions at the church and cemetery. It was at the church that Colonel Clark and the British commander, Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton, negotiated terms of surrender on February 24. The surrender of Fort Sackville occurred the next day, February 25, 1779. As a result, Hamilton’s plan to crush the Revolution in the West was checked and a basis was laid for the United Sates to later claim the area northwest of the Ohio River from which were eventually formed the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
Of course, kids' favorite part of the church's history is that there are "dead guys buried underneath!" (it's a Catholic church and it has 4 Bishops buried there)
Although I'm no longer Catholic, I still love this church! Maybe it's the history buff in me or maybe it's because of the wonderful memories that were created here. After all, for our family ... it's where it all began!
Since it was Jeff's day off, we took Rachael ice-skating today with several other area homeschoolers (about 50 total!)... several of whom are from our co-op. We snapped a few pictures with her best friends. She's also spending the weekend with Gracie, so we'll be missing her for a few days ...
This is my 10 year old's idea of "packed." She's going to be spending the weekend at a friend's house, so I told her to pack up her things. It took about 5 minutes to "pack" her clothes, then another 2 hours to figure out what other "necessities" she needed ... ie: stuffed animals, games, books, and furniture. Yes, I said furniture! I had to draw the line when she tried to convince me that she needed to bring the chair that she received for Christmas!
Oops! I was going to take a picture of this BEFORE we started eating, but I forgot. On the menu this evening ... - Chicken Pot Pie - Mashed Potatoes - Salad
Recipe: cooked chicken (leftovers work well!) 2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup 2 cans of mixed vegetables pre-made pie crust
Place bottom crust inside a piepan sprayed w/ cooking spray. Mix first 3 ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour ingredients into the piepan. Place top crust over mixture, tucking edges behind the bottom crust. Seal edges w/ a fork. Pierce the top before baking at 425 degrees for 30-40 minutes. If the edges start to get too brown, cover with aluminum foil.
Yes, I know this is kind of the ANTI-Homeschool Mom's meal! As much as I would love to bake my own bread, make my own detergents, sew my own clothes, etc. I'm just not that motivated or talented! ;-)
After several weeks of flickering lights in the bathroom, Jeff did some experimentation and switched out some breaker switches. (side note: Do Engineers EVER get tired of experimentation? One of these days when I'm struggling to think of something to write, I'll have to take a picture of our plumbing system. Jeff added all sorts of interesting things just so he could run calculations on our water pressure!) Anyway, our lights are now steady and we can sleep easily tonight! While he and Rachael went searching for a home improvement store that was open (we live in a small town and all the local stores were closed), I had fun playing with a new game that I had downloaded from http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/. I love that site! They have a new game everyday that can be downloaded for free.
Well, my Project 365 site is officially underway. 1 down, 364 (er, 365) to go!!!! (leapyear!!!)
Name: Amy Home: Indiana, United States About Me: I am a Homeschool Mom of 2 awesome children. This is my attempt at Project 365 - to chronicle our world through daily photos... See my complete profile
Of course the joyous celebration was cut short when he proceeded to poop in his pants (Nick, not Jeff) Anyway, at least I'll have a literate (albeit incontinent) son entering college in a few years!
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