Yeah, I'm Still Here

Busy, busy it seems.

After moving and unpacking this summer (which ended up taking ALL summer) I finally had a whole week to take a breath before the kids started NVVA. Between the heavier load of school work and soccer practices 4 nights a week, I've been a little overwhelmed. The boys don't seem to mind, but I'm finding very little "me" time these days.

We are enjoying the K12 curriculum offered through NVVA. It's seems to be based on a classical model focusing heavily on Language Arts, Math, History, Science on the Arts. My 5th grader has 5 History lessons a week. How great it that? So many kids don't get any real History in their education these days. Also, being mastery based, we can cruise through things that we already know, take more time on subjects that challenge us and just skip over the busy work. Love it!

Soccer has overwhelmed our lives as well. Z is still with AYSO, but practicing 2 nights a week. (and thankfully his coaches are not only super nice guys, but are also skilled players.....looks like Z will grow in his soccer skills this season!) N in on a club team this year. His coach is the one he has last fall and many of the same boys are on the team. It's been a great experience for him and we've seen quite a bit of growth in him as an athlete.

Me? Well, just trying to keep up with all the minor details of running a home so everyone is fed and has clean clothes!

Whew...I Needed a Break!

It's been a while, hasn't it? Lots of little things in my life have added up to me being just plain reoccupied!

We are currently in the process of moving to a new home. Moving totally takes over your world for about two months. Purging, selling, gathering boxes, searching neighborhoods, looking at homes, organizing, packing, moving, unpacking, decorating (my favorite part) all while keeping my family fed, keeping the house relatively clean, the laundry done and still getting out to see friends and family now and then.

So don't expect anything out of me until August. That's 'bout all I have right now. Wish me luck!

I'm Remembering Why I Moved Away From Oregon

It rains there.....a lot.

The rain is nice when there's just a few hours of it and the sun comes out in the afternoon. Or when you get a crashing thunderstorm for a few hours.

Or maybe on a Saturday, when you just want to curl up and watch a movie.

It also smells heavenly when you haven't had rain in a while.

But the endless drizzle a grey skies really gets on my nerves.

This winter, we have seen more gray skies in Las Vegas than I have in the past 12 years combined.

Here's Proof:

I need my sunshine and I need it now!!!

The New Year

Well, the Christmas decorations are packed away and the new year has come and gone. There are some new possibilities on the horizon, but I'm not getting my hopes up until they come to fruition. I suppose you can say I have the usual January blues...even through it's a new year, I don't get excited about it until spring. And even though it's in the mid 60's and sunny out, I still feel like its winter. And past the holidays, there's nothing I like about winter.

To top it off, it was Z's birthday yesterday. His 8th birthday. This is significant to me because the way I see it, my parenting era (although we know that never truly ends) is half over. My oldest is almost 10 and in 10 years, Z will be an adult. It's gone by so stinkin' fast. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago I was still changing diapers and strapping the boys in strollers? It seems that way. I can't imagine how fast the next 10 will go.

*Sigh*

Last week was also stressful in other ways. I experienced a bit of drama with another homeschool mom (I won't claim to be totally innocent, I do have a tendency to be snarky). Seems even in my 40's Jr High is still not over. I'm not going to go into detail here, but lets just say I've joined a long list of people she's alienated. On the other hand, I've never been one to be in lockstep with a group. That's the direction our homeschool group was going (you must only agree with the opinion of the Queen, lest be exiled from her majesty's kingdom). Yes, I've been exiled.

*Sigh*

So what else? Hmmm, I finally discovered Facebook last month. It's a bit addicting....but I like it. There's friends I think of often, but we don't have time to get together. There's extended family I only send Christmas cards to once a year. And there's old school chums that I haven't seen in 25 years, but it's good just to see their faces. I like that I can peak in on them and know they are well. It makes me happy.

*Sigh*

Oh, am I avoiding the New Year's resolution? Yes, yes I am. But here it is: I have decided to be more self disciplined. It carries over every where in my life.....exercise, diet, homeschool, spirituality, housekeeping, etc. I'm starting slow and trying to add small things in and make them habit. I'm getting there and I think in a couple months I will be at a good place. I just know that jumping in with both feet will cause great stress and most likely quick failure. Better to start small and work new habit into my life.

*Smile*


So that's it. Nothing to exciting....but that would be January, wouldn't it?

A Little Irony

I was on my way home from the grocery store when I drove past a minor car accident. Nothing unusual, really. The SUV was up on the median, tire blow out and the small car had a nice dent in the drivers side.

I'm just ticked I didn't have my camera with me. Why? The sign on top of the car read Driving School. Heh.

Believing in Santa

I knew the day would come, and I actually thought it would have happened before now. My oldest is a very logical child. He thinks everything through before he does it. It does not accept "just because" lightly and normally demands a thorough explanation for any question he might have.

The fact that at almost 10 years old, he hasn't questioned the legitimacy of Santa is beyond me.

I'm sure the fact that he has been homeschooled since 2nd grade has something to do with it. He is not surrounded by kids that are too cool to believe in Santa. I know there is also a want to believe in things that are magical when you are a child. It makes anything possible.

Yesterday, after watching old repeats of "Tim the Toolman Taylor" (blanking on the actual title of the series.....I'm blaming hormones), he asked my why some kids say there is no Santa.

Oh great, here we go. I have made up all kinds of crazy excuses to overcome any questions the kids have had regarding Santa.

Them: "Why can't we ask for a Wii?"

Me: "Because they are all sold out"

Them "Can't Santa's elves make more?"

Me: "Oh, honey, the elves have to outsource electronics. Something to do with magnetic energy on the North Pole."

Them: "OH! That makes sense"

I've been quite creative in preserving the Christmas Magic. I eat and crumble half the cookies they leave out on Christmas Eve for Santa. I use a different kind of wrapping paper for Santa's presents. I tell them about the special mail drop for late lists to ensure it gets to Santa on time. We've thrown Reindeer food from the balcony, had Santa visit our Christmas Eve parties (how they didn't notice it was really Grandpa, I'll never know) and make up all kinds of magical answers about how Santa gets into homes without chimneys.

Now N wants to know why some kids don't believe in Santa.

I told him,"Sometimes older kids think they are too cool to believe in Santa."

"Why would they think that?" he asks.

"I don't know honey....it just happens when you get older. I hope you aren't one of those kids."

He didn't say much more about it and I didn't want to dwell on it too much. But I think deep down he knows the truth. I think he's known it for quite a while.

I enjoy making the Christmas magic for the kids. I find it fun to give them hope for particular items on the wish list....the ones I know Santa will bring. I love the look on their faces when they receive something from Santa. I love the innocence of it all. It warms my heart.

I just hope he continues to play along for a couple more years. For my sake For his brother's sake.

Vegas Snow Day!

Yes, it snowed, really snowed here today! This is our 12th winter here and we have seen snow stick maybe three times before (although it happens annually in the foothills). Of course by the term "stick" I mean it stuck to the grass for about an hour or two. We had snow falling all day long today and it was really beautiful. Forcast calls for more snow tomorrow!