Election Day

Just one thought on Election Day.  It loses a lot when you've mailed in your ballot awhile ago.  I remember taking the kids to the polling station and explaining what I was doing.  No more, I just fill out the ballot in my own home and mail it off.  Not quite the same.....

In other news........we have no "new" news.   
School has been going well.  I think we've had two days where we played hooky but otherwise we've been hitting the books 4 days every week.  Tuesdays we don't do school because we have piano lessons, 4-H, and trips to the library, bank, chiropractor, etc.  It is wonderful to have a day to sleep in a little and get the house in order.  We also have time in the afternoon to relax a little.  It is becoming our favorite day!  Mondays are long and tiresome, not sure why but they usually are so it is nice to look forward to Tuesday. 
T & A are doing well in piano lessons.  R & C are both still enjoying violin and R seems to have made some big jumps and is able to play songs now--Yay!  C loves his Bass and practices both instuments diligently. 
Choir is going well; the boys sang on Sunday.  The whole youth choir sang last Sunday and will sing again Thanksgiving Eve.  We are working on a ton of music for the holidays and have some really fun pieces.
Everyone is enjoying 4-H.  There is a wide variety of classes being offered and the kids already have plans on what they will be taking to the fair next August.
P was asked to be a Deacon in our church and was voted in at the last business meeting.  He will be installed Nov 30 and is looking forward to helping out with the workings of the church.  Last Saturday night we had our traditional Reformation Wiener Roast and it was such a blast.  Most of the kids dressed up as either Bible characters or characters from the Reformation.  A wore P's graduation gown and was "Judge" Deborah.  R was Miriam complete with Moses in a basket.  T and C were the kids who made fun of Elisha and got mauled by a bear, P even shaved his head for the occasion.
I have been able to start walking again.  I'm up to 45 minutes of brisk walking with no pain.  I'm doing some isometric exercises to strengthen my thigh muscles and that really helps, as does my Pilates.  The problem is that my knees don't track properly and when they are under a lot of strain, such a running 2-4 miles every day, the tendon really gets inflamed.  Then any kind of activity is painful.  So if I can keep the tendon happy, I'm all set.  I'm hoping to start running soon but I'm going to take things easy.
I can't think of anything else but if something comes up, I'll be sure and let you know!   

Pictures from the fair

Here is R and I.

And here is the whole crazy bunch

What a week!

Monday we went to the Puyallup (Pyew a lup) Fair.  It was grand.  We went Monday because it was $1 ride day and that's about what we can afford!  I made everyone try the Ferris Wheel first because it's one of my favorites and then the older kids with P went to ride the Roller Coaster.  Just the two oldest, not P or T.  R and I had so much fun riding the Carousel and the Ferris Wheel (again). We also got her face painted (a green and pink butterfly) and she made a decorated tile at the Home Depot booth.  We also had a picture taken just the two of us.  We both enjoyed it and it was some great one-on-one time with R.  One-on-one time is rare in our family; we are so often all together, which is great in itself but a little individual attention is good too.  We all met up again and A and C tried another roller coaster which was "way more cool" because you spent part of the time sideways.  Next came the swings for A,C, and T and P, R and I went on the gliders.  T was dying to go on a roller coaster so we walked back to the coolest one and the three oldest were in line to go when they found that A couldn't ride solo.  P took pity and actually rode on his first roller coaster.  They all loved it and can't wait to go back, even P!  After the requisite cotton candy we were ready to head for home.

Another reason we went to the fair on Monday was that Tuesday we started school.  I really needed a break before we started because this year has been a bear to plan and prepare for.  All 4 are full time this fall and I have been feeling very overwhelmed thinking how it would all work out.  Plus I have to schedule 4 different music lessons (soon to be 5) with 2 different teachers, Youth Choir practice (I'm the co-director), Latin for A, and 4-H (starts next month--yay!).  On paper it doesn't look that difficult but being organizationally challenged it was a scheduling nightmare.  Add in to the equation that I need at least a couple of days where I don't have to go anywhere or I get rather cranky and my house might be condemned.  Finally it all worked out with a miracle from God, the piano teacher can teach on Tuesdays again instead of Mondays.  So we will be home Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and gone on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for choir, piano, latin, and 4-H.  The violin/bass/guitar teacher comes to my house on Wednesdays--God bless her!  After I figured all this out I had to plan the "school" part of our days.  I came up with a detailed schedule, down to the 15 minutes, that totally bombed!  I kept looking at the clock and feeling rushed and behind--because I was always rushed and behind!  On Thursday night after a couple of very stressful days it struck me that I was looking at the wrong thing.  Instead of looking at the clock I needed to focus on the rhythm of the schedule.  Grammar follows math and comes before history and science etc.  Also, although all the kids are doing Math at the same time, A and C cannot ask me questions about their work while I am helping R and to some extent T with their Math.  I just can't make the jump from "No R, that isn't the way you make a 5, erase it and do it the other way." to "A, the formula for slope is y=mx+b."  Once I figured this out, Friday went so smoothly!  We do our Bible lesson together after breakfast, a quick tidy and then upstairs for school.  Math is first, A and C do what they can and save their ?? for later.  After math, R and T do their grammar and then music practice.  C is generally working on grammar around this time too while A is still doing math.  At 11:00ish everyone stops and we do history reading together, they break up again for individual science--R and T are together again, R is being stretched up to 3rd grade science.  Thne everyone works on their writing assignments--R does handwriting and a reading lesson.  Then it is time for lunch and about time too!  After lunch I read to R and T while C and A practice their instruments.  It's quiet time next for R and T and then I answer any ?? that A and C had on their math or grammar or vocabulary or science or, or, or...  I also grade the days lessons.  We have one or two subjects to add next week for A and C but I think if I focus on the rhythm, we should be fine.

The house suffers a bit but the kids are doing a lot more now and I'll just have to fit things in when I can.  Laundry is a problem but the kids all help fold so we'll muddle through.  I've also been exercising every day before school.  I still can't run but I'm biking 6-8 miles a day.  I've been fighting with my back all summer so I am hoping to start pilates in the evening this week.  P will lift after the kids go to bed and I'll do 20-30 minutes.

I'd better run, dinner is ready!

Currently Reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler By E.L. Konigsburg see related

The first round of school books came today--Yay!!

The kids were excited looking at what they would be doing in a couple of weeks.  R was perturbed that she didn't get any new books yet.  I'm going to start doing A's Algebra 2 book, partly for fun and partly to anticipate any problems.  I'm so proud of her, 13 and taking Algebra 2!  C is doing pre-Algebra @ 11! 
We just love Math around here.....

We are off to Seattle on Wed. with a pre-school field trip to see the Impressionists Exhibit.  With 25 students and 8 chaperones, 33 of our closest friends are going.  ;)  We'll have a 60 minute tour with 2 docents and 60 minutes in the art workshop creating our own masterpieces.  That plus the ferry ride to the city will make a fun and exciting day. 

I'm thinking of killing this blog, I seem to have time for facebook but not longer posts.  I'll have to see...

Currently Reading George Washington's Sacred Fire By Peter A. Lillback, Jerry Newcombe see related

From the News today.........

Exxon Mobile reported quarterly earnings of over $12 Billion, the largest ever reported by an American company. 

Frankly, it makes me sick.  We are paying over $4.00 a gallon for gas--no one seems to know why--and they just pocketed $12 Billion?!?!?!  We can't afford to buy a new car right now.  Even if we could, car companies don't make fuel efficient cars that can carry our whole family--and we only have 4 kids, I have friends with 6 and 8, what are they supposed to do? 

When are we going to wake up and say--ENOUGH!  I'm there now.  I'll be taking my bike for the odd trip for milk, it's only three miles.  I will do whatever I can to limit my trips to town, scheduling appts together.  Any other good ideas?  What are you doing to conserve your money and your gas?

All I want to do is take some of that money out of their pocket and put it back in my own where it belongs!