Traditions

Traditions usually mean a lot to those that begin the tradition as well as to those who have followed in the footsteps of those traditions. I think I have come to a time in my life when I want to start a few traditions based on me and my family. It is not to exclude anyone from what we are doing but to make our time together better.

There are so many days, even with the kids being home schooled, we are in our own area and focused on our own projects we tend to miss real time together. We are going to start with Thanksgiving. There is so much more to Thanksgiving then eating as much as you can in one meal and watching some football, don't get me wrong the food is good and the game usually is too, but we are missing something. Being Thankful for what we have is the true key to Thanksgiving.

I have been watching the Joplin Extreme Makeover progress on Facebook and crying for these people I have never met, what a wonderful experience for them. I am amazed at how fast these homes are being put together by these volunteers.

I am so Thankful my life has never been touched by natural disaster.

So here is to traditions both old and new...hopefully they will find a happy blending of the two.

Goosebumps...the Good Kind

You ever hear those stories that give you goosebumps, not the scary ones but the honest to God pleasing goosebumps?!?! I love those stories and I have had a couple today.

First Attack
My first attack of the goosebumps came when I heard through Facebook that a dear friend of our very dear friends were chosen for Extreme Makeover:Home Edition Joplin, to aid in the recovery from the May 22nd tornado. Knowing our friends the way I do, I just knew in my heart of heart this other family was incredible. I had seen some footage of their house after the tornado and was devastated for them and everyone in Joplin. Seeing devastation from a more personal perspective was better than any news footage you could ever see.
Having watched many episodes of Extreme Makeover:Home Edition I knew this family, along with the other 6 families in Joplin, were going to be Blessed beyond any one's expectations. Here is a great article on the event.

Second Attack
The second attack of goosebumps came during a meeting this afternoon with the housing manager. We were talking about their monthly dinners and when it would be and then the following dinner would be on Thanksgiving at the same time. I think that my dear hubby and I had the same thought at the same time because we asked what time we needed to be there on Thanksgiving. There was no thought to anything else but helping people less fortunate than ourselves. When we talked to the kids they both wanted to know what we would be bringing then for Thanksgiving. That was it...no discussion of anything else, they want to help others too.

I have always cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for us either on Thanksgiving or sometime that weekend so we will have our turkey but we will be giving so much back to others. Knowing my kids are looking forward to this makes me realize we have actually done something right, we have raised great caring and giving kids.

Tis the Season

Well the season of colds has hit my house. I am pleased though since it took longer than normal to reach us. In past years the colds usually start entering the house within two weeks of school starting. Even mom has the stuffed up feeling but this too shall pass.

Friday is our trip to the pumpkin patch and the kids are looking forward to that.

School is going really well for the kids and mom too. I have seen some great progress withboth kids in their willingness to work. My own classes were giving me fits but thankfully I was able to get finished with my dear sons help. Laugh but it was about fossils and evolution and those are subjects he completely understands since he was not raised to discount theories but to try to understand them.

I have to design a Halloween Costume for my dear daughter. She wants to be the Queen of Hearts but with a dress not just a playing card. This could be fun.

Happy Thursday

So glad it is Thursday today. Actually, I have to say I am just so glad last week is behind us now. It is always so much better when my dear hubby is home instead of away.

I have been thinking about how great of an experience we have been having with schooling the kids at home. Granted there have been a few crazy, going to pull my hair out, run screaming from the room days, but they were more in the beginning than a constant now. We still have some moments but it takes nothing to get kids on task. I found that by saving Art and Science for later in the day there is something to look forward to doing.

Speaking of Science, we have had a great time with both of the kids' science curriculum. Last week with 5th grade Science DD and I made salt water layers and today she and dad made a current using different temps of salt water. She loved it and completely understood what and why it was happening. 7th Grade Earth Science is on Rocks and Minerals now and DS and Dad were doing scratch test using the rock and mineral kit he got for Science. The next couple of days he is busy classifying the rocks into different categories, he is a happy boy.

It has not all been fun and games, grammar is one of those subjects that is easy to use (for most people) then to describe. The grammar is a bit more advanced then what both of the kids were used to, fortunately I have found some different helps and ideas that enhance what we, yes we, are learning.

In many ways I think Literature is their favorite subject next to Science. They have enjoyed the reading so much. They actually end up reading a lot everyday. DS has an online portion of his Math, then reads a couple of extra pages, before doing the exercises. They both have two to three chapters of History everyday to read and answer questions on. I am amazed at some of the conversations we have had about what they are studying. Great times.

Busy Days

I just realized that I have not posted anything in almost a week. Dear hubby was gone for the week and he will finally be home tomorrow. He was helping with a large catering event...been interesting without him around. Of course my darling daughter knows how to push every button to make me cave, which started with not being able to sleep alone if daddy wasn't home to she didn't want me to be lonely. Like I could really be lonely with both dogs on the bed.

We had a successful week of school last week and managed to stay on task...yeah! My class work is coming right along and so glad they are only 5 1/2 week sessions.

The dogs will be very happy to have dad home too.

We had Girl Scouts tonight and my daughter had a wonderful time with her 'girls'.