Yeah! I see an end!!

I am so happy! This week has been going fairly well considering it has been Assessment week. Cayleb has been working, mostly, very hard on getting his Semester Assessments done for school, and after that we are done!! The only subject that we will be working on after tomorrow is Spelling because there is really no way to work ahead in that one, he really needs 4-5 days to work on each set of words (usually between 23-25 words.) He took his Science Assessment a while ago so that we could work on his Science experiment on Geotropism which he is still finishing up. He finished his Language Skills Assessments (2 parts) yesterday, finished the Literature assessment today and we have the review and assessment for Math tomorrow. History he Finished a while ago as well, as his presentation on Tall Ships of the World was considered his assessment. And Art has been incorperated into our Science lately because he is doing lots of decorating on his Science presentation. He has been having lots of fun with that lately. I decided to have him "Note Book" his results so he's doing a different page for each day that he had an entry, as well as a few other pages describing what his project was about etc.

I am also happy this week because I finally went to see a Chiropractor. First time I have ever seen a Chiropractor, just as a note. It went well, and I am hoping that we will be able to resolve my problems regarding that over the next few weeks. I'm going back on Saturday, and then she wants me to come in twice next week as well. My symptoms, you may be wondering, are waking up to my arm feeling like it is ON FIRE and FROZEN IN A BLOCK OF ICE at the same time. Yeah, your telling me, what a strange feeling that is. My guess was that it is a pinched nerve of some kind, and it's been going on off and on for about 5-6 years. It never really got bad enough for long enough to make me want to go in and see someone about it.... I consider myself to have a pretty high threshold for pain, so I think that some people would have gone in long ago about it, but I hate Dr. Appt.'s! Last night was better, but not good. So, I am telling myself that nothing can happen instantly, and it's been getting worse for 6 years, I can't expect it to get better in one trip to a chiropractor! So, I'll keep going. At least this way is a natural way to deal with the problem, I am not being "treated" with a prescription for Ibprofin or something, it's actually going to deal with the cause, the root persay, instead of trying to mask something. Anyway, I am too young to feel this dang old! Hehe.... yes, the Garth Brooks Song is now rolling through my head! Won't my friend April be proud of me!

Ahh my Konos is supposed to be here tomorrow!! I can't wait!! I created a database with my Konos Schedule for next year and put in on our Yahoo group. Birch Bay Konos Krusaders
Yeah, I know, I am a nut because I've already created a "schedule" for a Curriculum that I don't even have yet for the next 2 years!!

Teriffic Tuesday

Today has been good. I have been dong TONS of laundry, making up for not working on it during the weekend...... We have our beach outing with our WAVA group scheduled for Friday so hopefully the weather holds up. We are also trying to plan a camping trip for this weekend. This will be our first time camping since we moved up here almost 5 1/2 years ago! We also got our grass planted yesterday, Yeah!! I don't know when I'll get my Konos stuff, I did get a confirmation for my order saying that it shipped on Monday and it will take 5-7 days to get here, yipee! So that pretty much brings me up to date on the happenings around here.

Cayleb is doing a science experiment on Geotropism and I decided that we should try out the "note booking" style of keeping his records. It' s sort of like scrap booking, so it can be a lot of fun. He seems to be enjoying the more creative approach of logging his data rather than the usual boring just-jot-it-down-on-a-piece-of-paper approach. We are really excited to see how his experiment goes! I am also i the process of starting a Virtual Co-Op Yahoo group for the families that we find who want to do Konos Unit's with us. so far we have 2 other families besides ourselves. And we haven't even started it yet! I am trying to figure out how to organize my art/craft type projects into a data base sorted into types of some sort that would make it easy to come up with ideas for our units. Hmmm..... Lots to think about and I totally over think things sometimes.....

Well, that's all for now, I think :)

Yummy, Chocolate Cake!!

Cayleb and I are making a chocolate cake this morning to celebrate a good Monday and good math today as well!! It's been a while since we had a good Monday, and I wanted him to know that I appreciate it. Mmmmmmmm........ I can't wait to take a bite, but we are going to save it for tonight to have with everyone! Also, I heard from a little birdy yesterday that we are going to be getting into the Blaine Home Connections program for next Fall! I am so excited about that. It had me a little concerned, though it wouldn't have made a difference regarding to home school or not to home school, it will just make it so much more fun!! AnyWho! Gotta Go!!
Here is the Recipe:

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
• "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING(recipe follows)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.

VARIATIONS:
ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.

THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.

BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.

CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.


"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Not much happening..

today, that is. Cayleb is feeling better, so we are trying to catch up on some of the work that we missed this week.....
I have a dentist appt. this afternoon, yucky!!! No wait, Yipee!! Yeah, right! :( I have only left a regularly scheduled cleaning at a dentist like twice in my life without needing to come back for repairs! But here's hoping!
I need to go find a chiropractor because I have a pinched nerve in my back that has really been bothering me....
And Jason's Grandpa is having his 80th birthday next month and everyone is gathering for a "family reunion" of sorts, and we can't be there cause it's too stinking expensive to drive, and not much cheaper to fly. So, I totally feel like leftovers today. And I know that Jason has to be a little bummed about it too, but he has a better outlook about things sometimes and I don't think that he is letting it get him down. He's a good guy, you know. I love him so much that I can hardly contain it sometimes. We have really been enjoying our "dates" each Saturday and it really has seemed to help bring back our sense of humor and vibrance :) I think that we both live through each week looking forward to our date :) This week we don't meet because there is a HUGE concert happening at the church aka: no room for the kids to hang out while we are out on a date! So we, actually I, volunteered Jason to help a friend build his fence. The girls will get to hang out all day Saturday at their house with the kids (numbering 6) and we have a soccer game to go to sometime before lunch. So Saturday looks like fun :) Anywho, I need to go for now, Cayleb needs to move on to Science :)

Epiphany

So, here it is, I have come to realize that Monday's (figuratively) stink for us, no matter what day they happen to land on! Yesterday was Monday for us, and as has been the norm, ended up stinking to High Heaven. I am not sure what to do about this problem I seem to be having with Cayleb's lack of enthusiasm, motivation and bad attitude..... Should I reward this by changing things up for Monday's, trying to make them more fun or something? I mean, none of us really LOVE Monday's right? But Most of us don't DREAD them either, more than normal anyways :). So...... Though I have reached my epiphany regarding the consistency of Monday Blues around here, I have also faced an equally depressing juncture, What the Heck am I supposed to do about Mondays!!

Considering...

yesterday, today has been very low-key. Cayleb hasn't been feeling well, but not bad enough to not do school. He keeps procrastinating, and sidetracking, though, so this is taking a lot longer than it needs to... I keep telling him that if he would just pay more attention to his math problems, for example, he wouldn't have to take the assessment 3 times to pass on 7 problems.... he knows them and can do them out loud with me no problem, but when it comes to writing things down, his brain just miscommunicates what it wants to see written on the paper or something... So anyways....

I really want to order our Konos, but can't yet... I have pondered the idea of saving some of the "$" whatever the amount is that is supposed to be sent out from the government to boost the economy whatever.... and putting it towards our school supplies for next year.... but then there are about 50 other things that that money needs to go towards! like bills! Yuck, how depressing!! Anywho....

It's overcast today, it was supposed to rain but it hasn't yet. Maybe Jason will get a little more done on the yard tonight. :)

I want to talk about something happy, K!! So Happy Happy Happy!!! Happy to everyone!!! Happy thoughts, Happy Prayers, Happy Dreams, Happy Days, Happy-whatever-the-heck-it-is-that-will-make-you-happy Happy!!

I pray that God will lead you in the path that He wants you to travel. I pray that He will keep you safe where ever that path leads you. I pray that He uses you to reach a brother or sister in need. I pray that you will seek His guidance in all you do. I pray that He will Bless your family and provide you with everything you need. -Amen

The week so far...

So, Monday sucked as it has for the past few weeks.... but yesterday and today have been great so far :) We are working through fractions now, so math has been really easy for him. Nice, after a rough two weeks of long division. not that he didn't get it or anything, actually he's really good at it, but he just doesn't like all the pencil work that the practicing required. So, Fractions are like a vacation compared to that. I will try to write more later, I need to give him another assignment.

Okay, I am back....
We started Sarah Plain and Tall this week, he has read Chapters 1-5 already. Cayleb likes that it has three of our families names in it ;) Well, one isn't exactly the same Anna versus Ann :)

We feel like the end of the year is finally approaching, a relief after a long year. Spring is finally here, and flowers are blooming. Tulips are everywhere and Daffodils as well, people have planted them along the freeway even! It's so pretty :) I don't have any bulbs planted yet, but I think I may get around to that the next time they have the bags of them for sale at Costco :) I am hoping!

Cayleb is currently finishing his math time for the day making a recipe that his Auntie Sarah gave me for my Bridal Shower many years ago called "Popovers for Piglet" It's been a favorite of his since I started making it for him as a "first food" when he was just 7 or 8 months old! I told Sarah Rose that Cayleb was making her a "treat" and she is so excited!

Our chicks are getting bigger and moved out to the "Chicken House" on Monday. They are still under a light for night time, because it still gets down in the mid thirties some nights. It's so cute watching their half feathered bodies run around! Half feathers, half fluff!! Too cute!

I am anxious to get more work done in the yard; I can't wait to get the grass planted..... I know that is the first big step towards completion of our project. Jason and I walked around talking about my ideas the other day and we have a pretty good idea of what we want to do. We'll be sure to take a picture after it's done.... but that will be 2-3 months away still.... That's all for now

Adolescence and Attitude Cont.

Okay, so I have calmed down a little now. I am feeling better, had some lunch, heated up leftover homemade chicken noodle soup for Cayleb and took it into his room for him to have while he's working on the Math that I gave him. I just need him to learn that Math is serious, it can be fun, but I need him to be serious when it's time to be. He's in a better mood now too. I think that he just gets so wound up about himself and what he's going through, he forgets that he really hurts other peoples feelings.... He is usually such a considerate kid, and he is growing into a man.... I just want him to be the best person that he can be, do what it is that makes him happy and live a life for Christ all at the same time :) We get to start Sarah Plain and Tall tomorrow, which warrants a trip into the library! I like going :) I love reading, I just wish that I had more time to do it :)

Adolescence and Attitude.....

Why is it that we can have a great week (except for last Monday) and then have such a crappy day today? I don't understand where his attitude is coming from. I know that he's growing up and is probably starting to go through things in regards to puberty etc. but I can't handle his attitude. I just feel like smacking him upside the head! Grrr!!! So we started today with Math, he has an assessment that he has to pass before we move on to fractions. I was totally psyched about math this week. I wanted to try and do some cooking with him. But we have to get past this stupid assessment first, right? So, I hand it to him after a late start this morning at 9:30 and he starts whining and pouting about having to do more division etc... I expected that, but was totally trying to be an optimist, telling him that it it was his last day of it and that we were going to get to move on to fractions! It didn't work very well, as he proceeded to pout and piddled through his first few problems... so, 2 hours later, several helps from Mom, several reminders to keep working, and what seemed to be him getting a better attitude as he approached the end, he said "I'm Finished." Great! So We pulled out the book to check his answers and the first page was looking pretty decent.... he got two wrong, and had one that he forgot to put the answer at the top of the division bracket, so I helped him work through what he had written down for his work and we found what the answer was supposed to be.... technically, I am not supposed to do, this, prolly, he should have gotten it wrong. And if Jason had been correcting it, he would have. But Mom's a pushover and I was trying to keep things light and optimistic.... So we moved on the the next page (page 1-8 problems, Page 2- 8 problems, page 3- 4 problems for a total of 20) he was doing okay, he missed the first one... got the next 3 and then had only done half the work for the last 4 on the page.... He was told to estimate then divide, he only did the estimate part. So, being the total pushover that I am, I let him take the time to "fix" his work, and finish the problems.... He did and got them all right.... so far he missed one more and the rest looked fine.... so that's 3 wrong so far, right? Now for the last page, word problems, 4 of them and he says that he likes these the best.... he got 1 out of 4 right.... mostly because he just wasn't accurate in doing his work (but since he didn't write down any of his work on the paper for me to see, I couldn't help him to find where he'd made his mistakes (he did all the work on his white board and then erased it) So.... now he's missed 6! And I let him "Fix" 5 of the ones that he should have gotten WRONG! So, what am I supposed to do, after 2 hours of him dinking around with the assessment the first time I really just want him to stay away from me, in his room..... I just really don't want to be around him right now. He just doesn't seem to understand that his assessments are where he is supposed to give me his best work, show me that he learned what we've been working on so hard the last few weeks.... I Baby Fed him this stuff, using way more of my time that I think I should have to use, he seemed to really be getting it, but then I ask him to do this one assessment for me and I feel like he doesn't care, like he's letting me down.... And the assessment really isn't the entire problem... I was talking to him about something not math related and he decided it was a good time to talk back to me, so I sent him to his room! Ahhhh!!! I just really don't know what to do with him sometimes. The attitude chart was working pretty well, but the last two weeks, he hasn't earned his trip to the prize box.... Now I just feel like telling him tough luck, go back to fricking regular school and see how wonderful that is for you! I am totally not feeling Motherly Love right now. I hate this, because I know how much fun it can be! Why does he have to go and ruin it with a Frickin' bad attitude!! I know I have said it before, but it's days like these that I want to just call it quits, why waste my time if he's not going to appreciate all that I have to sacrifice to do this for him!!!!!!