tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18983871502956487022024-03-13T13:02:53.020-05:00Scout Road SchoolhouseJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-42564707857062052362011-09-17T20:05:00.000-05:002011-09-17T20:05:31.399-05:00Breaking up is hard to do.<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, that's the end, of, well, then end of the Thompson's with our home base on the Scout Road. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQt4jPntF-k/TnVDC_zqaiI/AAAAAAAASNs/h1R6zyxgJc8/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQt4jPntF-k/TnVDC_zqaiI/AAAAAAAASNs/h1R6zyxgJc8/s320/13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vn0nsL7xJzk/TnVDTLBwI7I/AAAAAAAASNw/ch39T9j0IgE/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vn0nsL7xJzk/TnVDTLBwI7I/AAAAAAAASNw/ch39T9j0IgE/s320/14.JPG" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_rdf9Nv1SAU/TnVDhQnkIkI/AAAAAAAASN0/KVIG7tu5uic/s320/2.JPG" width="237" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See you next week at <a href="http://learningonacurve.blogspot.com/">http://learningonacurve.blogspot.com/</a>. Make us a bookmark!!</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-65968410920860112592011-09-14T14:57:00.000-05:002011-09-14T14:57:07.114-05:00the in between times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7igKgq8T4kA/Tm1kEHridWI/AAAAAAAASMw/I6cD14rvELc/s1600/IMGP3522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7igKgq8T4kA/Tm1kEHridWI/AAAAAAAASMw/I6cD14rvELc/s320/IMGP3522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I think this photo accurately depicts where we are in this life right now!!!</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-58145884176861022482011-09-12T12:44:00.000-05:002011-09-12T12:44:40.022-05:00Highlight Reel<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twice this summer, we were able to travel to the north woods. Each time we had fantastic weather and fantastic times. One trip was the week before we closed on our new house. We sort of thought, "Now, or NEVER!!" Once the transition was done, though, we were able to meet Pops & Gram for another round.</div><div style="text-align: center;">.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pbRXk-zS6KA/Tm1mXHZOfII/AAAAAAAASM0/zYvjNgCTqP8/s1600/IMGP3576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pbRXk-zS6KA/Tm1mXHZOfII/AAAAAAAASM0/zYvjNgCTqP8/s320/IMGP3576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNl40mtGlfU/Tm4lEH677WI/AAAAAAAASNI/ntcRy1JiupM/s1600/IMGP3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNl40mtGlfU/Tm4lEH677WI/AAAAAAAASNI/ntcRy1JiupM/s320/IMGP3590.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-be3rs4o9Whs/Tm4eFfGZ4bI/AAAAAAAASNE/QVQkSlhKGAk/s1600/IMGP3582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-be3rs4o9Whs/Tm4eFfGZ4bI/AAAAAAAASNE/QVQkSlhKGAk/s320/IMGP3582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NVTX809Ggg/Tm1sc8vkFCI/AAAAAAAASNA/WorkbDn5b-g/s1600/IMGP3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NVTX809Ggg/Tm1sc8vkFCI/AAAAAAAASNA/WorkbDn5b-g/s320/IMGP3619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-eTvhI1SEQ/Tm43ZDITiTI/AAAAAAAASNc/3QbKrTx-0FU/s1600/IMGP3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-eTvhI1SEQ/Tm43ZDITiTI/AAAAAAAASNc/3QbKrTx-0FU/s320/IMGP3673.JPG" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsX-s_HTjH0/Tm4ok8w-u5I/AAAAAAAASNM/guAtxzDvuGg/s1600/IMGP3613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsX-s_HTjH0/Tm4ok8w-u5I/AAAAAAAASNM/guAtxzDvuGg/s320/IMGP3613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--QsYHOrTfjk/Tm4r6ldN3HI/AAAAAAAASNU/U4LPVs78sMs/s1600/IMGP3662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--QsYHOrTfjk/Tm4r6ldN3HI/AAAAAAAASNU/U4LPVs78sMs/s320/IMGP3662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUzymMJJNFQ/Tm1pXjNU16I/AAAAAAAASM8/wGjyY24N_s4/s1600/IMGP3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUzymMJJNFQ/Tm1pXjNU16I/AAAAAAAASM8/wGjyY24N_s4/s320/IMGP3599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> .....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-44874248614730410892011-09-09T11:12:00.000-05:002011-09-09T11:12:14.358-05:00Girls Rule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V9LaLBBP1lE/Tmozqjn0VlI/AAAAAAAASMk/SrA_1yJ7yrE/s1600/P7160059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V9LaLBBP1lE/Tmozqjn0VlI/AAAAAAAASMk/SrA_1yJ7yrE/s320/P7160059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The gals in part of my family have gotten the real treat of vacationing together every few years for a long weekend. It is always a blast, filled with lots of laughing and catching up and hanging out. This year, we hit a beachside community in Michigan.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BEO4imVd8U/TmoZaYNC2nI/AAAAAAAASMI/xpjhWqz7xjQ/s1600/P7150027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BEO4imVd8U/TmoZaYNC2nI/AAAAAAAASMI/xpjhWqz7xjQ/s200/P7150027.JPG" width="140" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2DfcvDiB7c/TmopUubAKRI/AAAAAAAASMQ/0w6zeNmgmQM/s1600/P7160064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2DfcvDiB7c/TmopUubAKRI/AAAAAAAASMQ/0w6zeNmgmQM/s320/P7160064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I, especially, enjoyed hanging out with Lena (and without the boys). It was fun just to meet her at her level and have tons of energy to include her in the group without other distractions. And SHE had a BLAST!! She loved everything about the weekend and was a trooper for all of the shopping and walking and odd mealtimes/bedtimes, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n4Vr9pQdsd4/TmouSG2WtZI/AAAAAAAASMc/anESLkXWVis/s1600/P7160113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n4Vr9pQdsd4/TmouSG2WtZI/AAAAAAAASMc/anESLkXWVis/s320/P7160113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0_YUf8zCS8/TmowkxOWfRI/AAAAAAAASMg/_uKA5ZqBipE/s400/P7160129.JPG" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgNg6UZ2Eek/TmorNO8U4rI/AAAAAAAASMU/ajnRgpiU-ug/s200/P7160106.JPG" width="200" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fz_huPJg2Qk/Tmoszanx_qI/AAAAAAAASMY/x76QPIgzzuY/s1600/P7160105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fz_huPJg2Qk/Tmoszanx_qI/AAAAAAAASMY/x76QPIgzzuY/s200/P7160105.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9DEDZdgqcs/TmobcYvcRsI/AAAAAAAASMM/tddrjdmdpW0/s1600/P7150030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9DEDZdgqcs/TmobcYvcRsI/AAAAAAAASMM/tddrjdmdpW0/s320/P7150030.JPG" width="252" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(...love this picture because I know it made my Mom nervous to see Lena acting the daredevil like her father!!!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
We look forward to next year...where shall we go next???</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y91S3ILvKOM/TmlxfkofS9I/AAAAAAAASME/GPhLsSF7VYA/s1600/P7150019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y91S3ILvKOM/TmlxfkofS9I/AAAAAAAASME/GPhLsSF7VYA/s320/P7150019.JPG" width="165" /></a></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-64763631433561424672011-09-07T21:27:00.000-05:002011-09-07T21:27:09.791-05:00Quickly Covered<div style="text-align: center;">Birthdays of the latter part of May (as well as PJ in August) took a back seat to the move in-progress. We went a bit more lower key than usual and focused on celebrating the person rather than the hoopla surrounding. We toyed around with having one last blast in Maypalooza, but it wasn't meant to be!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a7hcFq6Z2A/Tmex7UZRWQI/AAAAAAAASHE/ieFG2J2RvCE/s200/IMGP2783.JPG" width="171" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQCgmTtUUVE/TmeREee0IQI/AAAAAAAASG0/Whsg52BldPo/s1600/IMGP2774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQCgmTtUUVE/TmeREee0IQI/AAAAAAAASG0/Whsg52BldPo/s200/IMGP2774.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myhZ7-AUlUg/TmezhP6n6tI/AAAAAAAASG8/EQssXKdnfiE/s1600/IMGP2915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myhZ7-AUlUg/TmezhP6n6tI/AAAAAAAASG8/EQssXKdnfiE/s320/IMGP2915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">#9</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NKLxUj0P1M/TmgW0oK0CQI/AAAAAAAASHI/mvhwvK7B2zc/s1600/IMGP2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NKLxUj0P1M/TmgW0oK0CQI/AAAAAAAASHI/mvhwvK7B2zc/s320/IMGP2821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">#39</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plza3q1RUCg/TmGRvH6xyjI/AAAAAAAASHM/4wz9vlCcV60/s1600/IMGP3891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plza3q1RUCg/TmGRvH6xyjI/AAAAAAAASHM/4wz9vlCcV60/s320/IMGP3891.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">#3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBY8aru2P7Q/TmGWT_cqPRI/AAAAAAAASHY/B1NIXznGsIE/s1600/IMGP3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBY8aru2P7Q/TmGWT_cqPRI/AAAAAAAASHY/B1NIXznGsIE/s320/IMGP3945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JO0Kkxmk-QU/TmGWOnUN0vI/AAAAAAAASHc/JdOh0H8X3Ns/s1600/IMGP3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JO0Kkxmk-QU/TmGWOnUN0vI/AAAAAAAASHc/JdOh0H8X3Ns/s320/IMGP3944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look out next year, summer birthdays! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're going to party like it's...well, you know how the song goes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-37694500638117529342011-09-05T16:18:00.000-05:002011-09-05T16:18:48.248-05:00How to say goodbye in a thousand easy steps:<div style="text-align: center;">I think most bloggers, even recreational ones like me, would tell you they find themselves surprised at the end of a three month blogging hiatus. I mean, <em>three months...</em>where has the time gone? Blogging breaks can be intentional, but this break wasn’t meant to occur. In hindsight, however, I really don’t know when I would have found the time to post!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My break comes in part from the move, as well as trouble working on a set up for photo up load and writing at our new place. The other part, though, has been finding the energy to say goodbye to the Scout Road Schoolhouse and hello to something new. (And what might that something new be???)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To sign off, then, from the Schoolhouse, I’ll be posting a series on how the five of us have said farewell to the southeast.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GK6MFTjK4xc/TmU8L5nGnhI/AAAAAAAAR4c/E6rMBQ5S5OU/s1600/Scout+Road+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235px" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GK6MFTjK4xc/TmU8L5nGnhI/AAAAAAAAR4c/E6rMBQ5S5OU/s320/Scout+Road+Portrait.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-38708890896254949672011-06-02T12:51:00.000-05:002011-06-02T12:51:52.236-05:00What does a cow say?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvuNbLODWnA/TefMvEyU8KI/AAAAAAAAOBg/DEEvTVtZrgo/s1600/IMGP3071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvuNbLODWnA/TefMvEyU8KI/AAAAAAAAOBg/DEEvTVtZrgo/s400/IMGP3071.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Say it with us, now....</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-19410150096616168222011-05-31T19:11:00.000-05:002011-05-31T19:11:25.510-05:00"Home schooling's appeal spreads to mainstream.""<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-education-homeschooling-idUSTRE72F4WS20110316">Home schooling's appeal spreads to mainstream</a>."<br />
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BOSTON (Reuters) - Studying at Harvard, meeting for group French lessons, volunteering at a hospital and spending a day in the wilderness are just a glimpse into a typical day of home schooling, which looks dramatically different today from just a mere decade ago.<br />
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Once considered distinctly Christian, the movement is deepening its mainstream roots, experts say.<br />
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While a majority of home school parents still cite religion or values as a top reason for keeping their children out of public schools, home-school education has been increasingly appealing to a broader audience.<br />
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The ranks of home-schooled students swelled to more than 2 million last year, by some research estimates, compared with about 850,000 home schooled a decade ago.<br />
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"It's a mainstream option now for most Americans," said Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, which compiled the latest home school data.<br />
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Home-school families include varied religions, members across the political spectrum, a range of income brackets and parents with different levels of education, Ray said.<br />
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Home schooling is no longer "seen as fringe at all," he said.<br />
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Among the reasons for choosing home education cited by secular parents are strengthening family ties, providing more time for children's interests and developing individualized curricula -- reasons that resonate with religious families pursuing home education as well.<br />
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They too cite concern about public school environments, family ties and academic standards as reasons to home school, research shows.<br />
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Home school is more visible than it once was, with museums catering to home-school groups, home schoolers performing in concerts and local theaters and students earning college credits while still in their early teens.<br />
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Such accomplished students include Sophia Sayigh's son, now 21 and on his own playing in a band, teaching music classes and working to get a studio off the ground.<br />
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Classes that he took at Harvard Extension School while growing up in the Boston suburbs translated into college credits, and he graduated from Berklee College of Music in just two-and-a-half years, his mother said.<br />
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Neither Sayigh's son or daughter, 18 and pursuing a nursing degree, ever went to public school, a choice their mother said stemmed from anxiety she felt sending them into a world of grades, tests and stifling structure.<br />
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On a typical Wednesday in Pamela Victor's home classroom, her 14-year-old son works on structured academics while her 12-year-old daughter heads out to a wilderness program to learn to track animals, find edible plants and build a fire.<br />
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An extended family trip to Florida will let her daughter pursue her interest in marine biology, Victor said.<br />
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"Home schooling has had the benefit of making our family unit much stronger than what it ever would have been," she said.<br />
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The trend could grow exponentially, according to NHERI research that shows about three-quarters of a sample of home-educated students who are now adults raising their own children are opting to home school.<br />
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(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Jerry Norton)Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-42242761223377614162011-05-25T21:15:00.001-05:002011-05-25T21:17:28.719-05:00(Seacrest) OUTAs I sit on the couch watching the only (and apparently last) five minutes I've seen this year of American Idol (due in part to this new "Mama only" laptop) I'm waiting to see Ryan sign out with his usual blessing. Funny too, that I read an <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/05/the-last-oprah-winfrey-show-no-makeovers-no-giveaways-just-goodbye.html">LA Times article</a> earlier on aforementioned laptop (yes I'm very thrilled with it) about Oprah's last show. Sidebar...apparently she was preaching the Good Word (my caps)?!<br />
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All the endings lately bring me to tonight's blog posts. The end of May birthdays in the house. Can we all breathe a sigh of relief? Even the thank you notes are almost all written and mailed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMrLgJc6XUM/Td22IW_3WjI/AAAAAAAAOBM/xdJ0gh-a-jw/s1600/IMGP3039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMrLgJc6XUM/Td22IW_3WjI/AAAAAAAAOBM/xdJ0gh-a-jw/s400/IMGP3039.JPG" t8="true" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, since May is almost OUT, bring on summer!</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-27482112644456980722011-05-24T12:53:00.000-05:002011-05-24T12:53:11.156-05:00Caption This<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you guess....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ooo4fr-2ck/Tdvu6VmLd7I/AAAAAAAAOA8/6MtJMDobOYM/s1600/IMGP2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ooo4fr-2ck/Tdvu6VmLd7I/AAAAAAAAOA8/6MtJMDobOYM/s320/IMGP2822.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">what is going on....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A0JLVec422c/TdvvQsaFz1I/AAAAAAAAOBA/Ia-PiB6j-ew/s1600/IMGP2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A0JLVec422c/TdvvQsaFz1I/AAAAAAAAOBA/Ia-PiB6j-ew/s320/IMGP2824.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">in these pictures? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRY1Lj_24Po/TdvvYSnIs8I/AAAAAAAAOBE/aO_t2-Ku9sE/s1600/IMGP2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRY1Lj_24Po/TdvvYSnIs8I/AAAAAAAAOBE/aO_t2-Ku9sE/s320/IMGP2828.JPG" t8="true" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That's right, it's doll laundry day! We're saving the earth by line drying.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-6165269485074144492011-05-17T20:10:00.000-05:002011-05-17T20:10:11.686-05:00burning the candle at both ends :: Letter #2<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Mermaid of Dolphin Avenue,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">We’re coming poor and tired, although not hungry, surprisingly.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">We apologize for not bringing anything. More so, we apologize for not offering to bring anything.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">We apologize, in advance, for coming, and most likely, abusing your home and its belongings.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">We’re bringing one thing in spades, however…our enthusiasm.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1LkTZBmBDU/TdMai0Qo2DI/AAAAAAAAOAQ/tXAPCFlFCDQ/s320/IMGP2716.JPG" width="212px" /></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">SEE YOU FRIDAY!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Us Five (minus one)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*note: I realize I've had an inappropriately unfair amount of photos of PJ lately...especially when it's not his birthday month. But, DANG, that kid gives good expressions! He doesn't pose either, like the other two are known for!!!</span></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-71281339705133835062011-05-17T19:47:00.000-05:002011-05-17T19:47:35.446-05:00burning the candle at both ends : Letter #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90ZWScEFoKQ/TdMUxWe1wuI/AAAAAAAAOAI/gcisbd75B2Y/s1600/IMGP2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90ZWScEFoKQ/TdMUxWe1wuI/AAAAAAAAOAI/gcisbd75B2Y/s320/IMGP2579.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear May, <br />
<br />
I really love it when you come, but now it's time for you to go.<br />
<br />
All your groceries, and cakes, amazon orders, parties, company, cakes, special shopping trips, cookies, mounds of ice cream with toppings, trips to restaurants, and general merriment are really neat and fancy in the beginning of the month. But now? Well, let's just say, you've overstayed your welcome. Just like this mostly cool weather you keep shoving our way...move it along.<br />
<br />
I'll be excited when you come around next year, but for now...don't let the door hit ya.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
MomJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-70591549406887438942011-05-13T18:52:00.000-05:002011-05-13T18:52:56.692-05:00O-U-T<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zblPXzpaqJU/Tc3C46IJ5HI/AAAAAAAANYw/LlldQxSkMDw/s1600/IMGP2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zblPXzpaqJU/Tc3C46IJ5HI/AAAAAAAANYw/LlldQxSkMDw/s400/IMGP2687.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're outside, and the only writing I'm doing these last few days is in chalk on the sidewalk. (Never mind, the writing on packing box labels).</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-75643557857342816422011-05-09T20:11:00.000-05:002011-05-09T20:11:09.529-05:00Let It Ride!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ0ZPtr2q3Y/TciN5yRa_gI/AAAAAAAANYA/xGIrMSHsljg/s1600/IMGP2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ0ZPtr2q3Y/TciN5yRa_gI/AAAAAAAANYA/xGIrMSHsljg/s400/IMGP2628.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJxNfstVy-U/TciOJ_St8UI/AAAAAAAANYI/bG2nKND9260/s1600/IMGP2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJxNfstVy-U/TciOJ_St8UI/AAAAAAAANYI/bG2nKND9260/s400/IMGP2633.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDhlDaiAFWo/TciOPPV9NHI/AAAAAAAANYM/4Qm27Vf8OXw/s1600/IMGP2634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDhlDaiAFWo/TciOPPV9NHI/AAAAAAAANYM/4Qm27Vf8OXw/s400/IMGP2634.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKkBkcKch6I/TciOUNhj8sI/AAAAAAAANYQ/ZKzuPcBjZwA/s1600/IMGP2636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKkBkcKch6I/TciOUNhj8sI/AAAAAAAANYQ/ZKzuPcBjZwA/s400/IMGP2636.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4QkFvTFV5c/TciODMj7YwI/AAAAAAAANYE/Kc5LVHbMrjQ/s1600/IMGP2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265px" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4QkFvTFV5c/TciODMj7YwI/AAAAAAAANYE/Kc5LVHbMrjQ/s400/IMGP2631.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-61191717454387439502011-05-06T13:18:00.000-05:002011-05-06T13:18:24.552-05:00The Ultimate Showdown<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who would win a battle between Pokemon & Star Wars? They both have enemies (double that, I guess). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEoa-KnVoSQ/TcQ4XxaB_mI/AAAAAAAANXw/NBhJI7H_8vQ/s1600/PokemonvsStarWars1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEoa-KnVoSQ/TcQ4XxaB_mI/AAAAAAAANXw/NBhJI7H_8vQ/s320/PokemonvsStarWars1.jpg" width="247px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHfBcOQ2B6E/TcQ4ZXgqHjI/AAAAAAAANX0/gErk8Uk2_GM/s1600/PokemonvsStarWars2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHfBcOQ2B6E/TcQ4ZXgqHjI/AAAAAAAANX0/gErk8Uk2_GM/s320/PokemonvsStarWars2.jpg" width="233px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OlpGe4pnYPk/TcQ4aTu7OLI/AAAAAAAANX4/zacb711Puzg/s1600/PokemonvsStarWars3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OlpGe4pnYPk/TcQ4aTu7OLI/AAAAAAAANX4/zacb711Puzg/s320/PokemonvsStarWars3.jpg" width="228px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My guess? Too close to call.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-31261068752875798542011-05-05T09:00:00.001-05:002011-05-05T09:01:32.927-05:00Cloudy Days<span id="goog_505218709"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upFhux0LROs/TcKqGg-v6UI/AAAAAAAAM9o/Fw4uyYfJ_Ls/s1600/IMGP2605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upFhux0LROs/TcKqGg-v6UI/AAAAAAAAM9o/Fw4uyYfJ_Ls/s400/IMGP2605.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jack seems to enjoy keeping several chapter books going at any given time. He picked this one up on a rainy day earlier in the week and has read with intensity since. He gave me the update this morning on how Percy was doing. It's a hilarious adventure for Percy, Jackson (and I!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_505218710"></span></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-25365477408188751472011-05-03T16:39:00.000-05:002011-05-03T16:39:41.860-05:006 on SIX<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vjln261oyRY/TcB1G8cQTwI/AAAAAAAAM9I/EGH3j4zmgIA/s1600/P4300194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vjln261oyRY/TcB1G8cQTwI/AAAAAAAAM9I/EGH3j4zmgIA/s320/P4300194.JPG" width="314px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ONE</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXAONO_znVs/TcB1AlRr8sI/AAAAAAAAM9E/wE5BH-9zd08/s1600/IMGP2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXAONO_znVs/TcB1AlRr8sI/AAAAAAAAM9E/wE5BH-9zd08/s320/IMGP2591.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">TWO</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTC0tOWKd0A/TcB1MMxQ5mI/AAAAAAAAM9M/P8ztdSO_gFs/s1600/P5010214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTC0tOWKd0A/TcB1MMxQ5mI/AAAAAAAAM9M/P8ztdSO_gFs/s320/P5010214.JPG" width="285px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THREE</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MPfZQLpSGI/TcB1TvWotrI/AAAAAAAAM9Q/Zaba4anwtvo/s1600/P5010256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MPfZQLpSGI/TcB1TvWotrI/AAAAAAAAM9Q/Zaba4anwtvo/s320/P5010256.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FOUR</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VuxMMl5SNiE/TcB1iEl6ScI/AAAAAAAAM9Y/QvMp3Qdzd6g/s1600/P5010276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VuxMMl5SNiE/TcB1iEl6ScI/AAAAAAAAM9Y/QvMp3Qdzd6g/s320/P5010276.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FIVE</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6mmpSFiKCo/TcB1n34utGI/AAAAAAAAM9c/w6nvi6PUXVE/s1600/P5020287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6mmpSFiKCo/TcB1n34utGI/AAAAAAAAM9c/w6nvi6PUXVE/s320/P5020287.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SIX</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-11260332723196577012011-05-01T00:00:00.000-05:002011-05-01T00:00:15.445-05:00S-H-E<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>She HATES it when I do this!!!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FeEPPpk_Z2U/TbzoxvGMxPI/AAAAAAAAM9A/BCafOJMA5mA/s1600/IMGP2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FeEPPpk_Z2U/TbzoxvGMxPI/AAAAAAAAM9A/BCafOJMA5mA/s400/IMGP2462.JPG" width="383px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-42723468795996583562011-04-29T10:21:00.000-05:002011-04-29T10:21:29.488-05:00a-HA!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g0ANRyHH4eY/TbrU2KzwQxI/AAAAAAAAM8s/-n6nKknm8rw/s1600/IMGP2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g0ANRyHH4eY/TbrU2KzwQxI/AAAAAAAAM8s/-n6nKknm8rw/s400/IMGP2328.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(last warm day)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've finally figured out why it's been such a cold spring! If we've had a promised day of warmth and sun more often than once every three weeks, we surely would have let our summer fever take over and played hooky more often.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As it is, we started our homeschool day with a history lesson by watching Kate & William tie the knot. We got some fabulous views of Victoria's statue along with Buckingham Palace. (Note...the recent movie about Queen Victoria with Emily Blunt is a dry but well done movie.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We finished up table time with the help of cinnamon + coffee for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Next we're onto a picnic and hike with friends at the local state park.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There is lots of talk about birthdays going on, as you can imagine. I'm carefully wading into our busiest/craziest/sugariest month of the year...May... with great hopes of a centered and routine'd start to each day on my part, and then going with the flow as each day progresses. Structure + Flexibility = Happy Mom = Happy Kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qafs_GK2Cok/TbrU-Yi5ktI/AAAAAAAAM8w/D_bFWn2r-C4/s1600/P4210146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qafs_GK2Cok/TbrU-Yi5ktI/AAAAAAAAM8w/D_bFWn2r-C4/s320/P4210146.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(eating out makes us ALL happy for some reason, too)</span></em></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As a recap for the week:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jack successfully used the word "symbiotic" in a casual conversation with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GIKN2GIL68E/TbrVB8h0ObI/AAAAAAAAM80/UezyHP4TCwQ/s1600/P4180143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GIKN2GIL68E/TbrVB8h0ObI/AAAAAAAAM80/UezyHP4TCwQ/s200/P4180143.JPG" width="186px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Easter box goodies)</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lena's favorite words for this week are crunchy and picnic (pronounced pik-a-nik, think Yogi Bear).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ug9zbOS7VTE/TbrUfuXozHI/AAAAAAAAM8Y/YSEzpLFOiUU/s1600/P4080154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ug9zbOS7VTE/TbrUfuXozHI/AAAAAAAAM8Y/YSEzpLFOiUU/s200/P4080154.JPG" width="196px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(face painting with friends)</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">PJ needs a haircut.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dfEh4h5AZ7k/TbrUwsHHV5I/AAAAAAAAM8o/lC_hgxkzDxI/s1600/P4270154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dfEh4h5AZ7k/TbrUwsHHV5I/AAAAAAAAM8o/lC_hgxkzDxI/s200/P4270154.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(play-doh at the "big counter")</span></em></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Happy weekend with whatever sunshine you can find!!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6S2zFjsCdFQ/TbrWq9n3A2I/AAAAAAAAM84/0V9OfjgJLYk/s1600/4-29-11b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6S2zFjsCdFQ/TbrWq9n3A2I/AAAAAAAAM84/0V9OfjgJLYk/s400/4-29-11b.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-6441327577460057212011-04-28T09:36:00.000-05:002011-04-28T09:36:09.809-05:00Birthday Girl DreamsWednesday nights are always late ones around here with Awana....therefore Thursday mornings always start slow. I kind of like it, actually. Murphy's Law would say that it would be hard to get them back around to school, but not so. Jack (being an extreme creature of habit like me) eventually gets around to table time without being asked. With Lena, we have friends coming over this afternoon, and she knows she must be done with personal grooming (ha!), chores, and table time/reading if she wants to have part in the merry making. For some reason, this unusual morning free time leads to lots of peaceful play between the three (like, they are being EXTRA good so they don't get sent to work!!).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7gnUfz8YPlU/Tbl6u_aUpcI/AAAAAAAAM8Q/x3Mfdh5c2DE/s1600/P4270155b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7gnUfz8YPlU/Tbl6u_aUpcI/AAAAAAAAM8Q/x3Mfdh5c2DE/s200/P4270155b.jpg" width="176px" /></a></div><br />
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This morning as Jack & Lena were lying on the couch next to each other (I know, NEVER happens peacefully!!), she thought to have him help her write a birthday wish list. <br />
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Can you tell where her ideas stopped and his took over??? How this makes me laugh! Can't you just hear him? "Lena, don't you want a Pokemon game for your DS?" "Jack, I don't have a DS, YOU DO!!".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HXPKttcXvSg/Tbl2rPY6qrI/AAAAAAAAM8I/V0ewCrSI0nY/s1600/Wish+List.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HXPKttcXvSg/Tbl2rPY6qrI/AAAAAAAAM8I/V0ewCrSI0nY/s320/Wish+List.jpg" width="143px" /></a></div><br />
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*(picture of unicorn pillow pet) LITTLE<br />
*LAPTOP<br />
*DS<br />
*Pokemon Pearl Vershion<br />
*Bakugan Battle Trainer<br />
*Jepe BaRBe<br />
*CAT<br />
*(picture of a watch)<br />
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Did you spot the handwriting change???<br />
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I love how <strike>KAT</strike> is crossed out to be spelled correctly.<br />
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<em>Most of you who check in on the Scout Road, I know, have already bought little Lena her birthday present. But, wanted to share this cute list, anyway....</em><br />
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Well, sounds from the play room are becoming less peaceful....intervention necessary.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-90518737301675823742011-04-25T19:50:00.000-05:002011-04-25T19:50:15.305-05:00Clap Your Hands<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_oRW3mDgIz0/TbYEMTm4KbI/AAAAAAAAM7w/ZmDZef_RVUU/s1600/new+coat+for+anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_oRW3mDgIz0/TbYEMTm4KbI/AAAAAAAAM7w/ZmDZef_RVUU/s200/new+coat+for+anna.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A recent <a href="http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html">FIAR</a> book Lena and I read shared the story of a young girl in post-WWII times. In "<em>A New Coat for Anna</em>", Anna needs a new winter coat and her mother finds creative ways of bartering to get Anna just the right one. Anna gets to see firsthand how her coat is made, truly from beginning to end, including the weaving process.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SdzUFey1pdM/TbYERNdEMlI/AAAAAAAAM70/qisWbi_NAJ0/s1600/weaving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SdzUFey1pdM/TbYERNdEMlI/AAAAAAAAM70/qisWbi_NAJ0/s200/weaving.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I checked this book out from our amazing interlibrary loan system. I scanned several projects and put in the "try this when Lena is older file". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KYmnKfmmmqQ/TbYT9zUZBtI/AAAAAAAAM74/Mq9bHvNzpFk/s1600/Weaving.jpg_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KYmnKfmmmqQ/TbYT9zUZBtI/AAAAAAAAM74/Mq9bHvNzpFk/s200/Weaving.jpg_edited-2.jpg" width="123px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One project we tried right away was simple paper weaving. It was quick and easy. Just the right length to allow her to complete one project in the time it took me to a read Anna's story to her one more time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXcqIRfZDPE/TbYUSHTZAKI/AAAAAAAAM78/PSPg5Qy2kyk/s1600/IMGP2244C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXcqIRfZDPE/TbYUSHTZAKI/AAAAAAAAM78/PSPg5Qy2kyk/s320/IMGP2244C.jpg" width="308px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Later in the day, I was outside watching the kids in the front yard. Instead of weeding the flower bed, pulling up fence posts, or spraying crab grass, I planted myself near the tire swing and had weaving on the brain. One idea in the "<em>Kids Weaving</em>" book suggested using twigs and branches to weave a fence, trellis, or even a shelter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDXWFdUWLiU/TbYUmuuqlOI/AAAAAAAAM8A/OPtmFaKzF50/s1600/IMGP2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDXWFdUWLiU/TbYUmuuqlOI/AAAAAAAAM8A/OPtmFaKzF50/s320/IMGP2257.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I figured I'd start small and build a fence to keep the children out of the fairies camp. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Do you believe in fairies? … If you believe clap your hands.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>James M. Barrie</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Peter Pan.</em></div><br />
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</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-57643307196766439562011-04-18T16:57:00.000-05:002011-04-18T16:57:52.287-05:00Lena's Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqyf1nf0PeI/TaytnjwQieI/AAAAAAAAM7k/uwTQ9JYlY8M/s1600/Lena%2527s+Journal_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqyf1nf0PeI/TaytnjwQieI/AAAAAAAAM7k/uwTQ9JYlY8M/s320/Lena%2527s+Journal_edited-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These past few weeks, I've slowly been asking Lena to do a journal entry. We're up, now, to making an entry each morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've found encouraging kiddos to write to be more challenging than I would have imagined. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As an adult, I welcome the creative outlet of writing. I enjoy writing for expression in a prayer journal as well as on this blog. With the upcoming move, even, I have a list of people (and places, i.e. the library!!) to whom I intend to write a "sincere letter" of good-bye. When you put something into words, it requires brain energy and thought, and I think that's a great creative outlet and use of time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, not so with my kiddos, at least. I'm sure in my public teaching days, I knew kids who welcomed the chance to quietly reflect and write, but so far, I've not found that with Jack and Lena. So, encouraging a journal entry from Lena each day feels a bit like walking on eggshells. I want the experience to be free of frustration and full of positive reinforcement thus to encourage more writing! And for the most part, I've had success presenting writing to Lena in such a way that she's starting to see it's not as hard as she would have thought. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Write on!</div><span id="goog_1840375208"></span><span id="goog_1840375209"></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-438166168319470342011-04-14T17:22:00.000-05:002011-04-14T17:22:55.318-05:00Leaf-ing<div style="text-align: center;">There will be a lot of posts thru the next two months, I imagine, titled "leaving" of one sort or another. I've taken to carry the camera with me on even the silliest outings (for chicken pox vaccines, yes, even there). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Suddenly every moment is quickly becoming a "last memory".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMMmcsDGMyI/TadzRnE5MeI/AAAAAAAAMzI/Ja1LriiN3po/s1600/Spring+1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMMmcsDGMyI/TadzRnE5MeI/AAAAAAAAMzI/Ja1LriiN3po/s320/Spring+1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfjJEyF64s8/TadzSh7-j4I/AAAAAAAAMzM/6CkiRjW_uB0/s1600/Spring+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfjJEyF64s8/TadzSh7-j4I/AAAAAAAAMzM/6CkiRjW_uB0/s320/Spring+2.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBBpbbRzgqI/TadzUeKOJXI/AAAAAAAAMzU/Ux4VjeiDyZc/s1600/Spring+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBBpbbRzgqI/TadzUeKOJXI/AAAAAAAAMzU/Ux4VjeiDyZc/s320/Spring+4.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQkrDqzhqXE/TadzXAOekMI/AAAAAAAAMzY/80jDpdXA2cY/s1600/Spring+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQkrDqzhqXE/TadzXAOekMI/AAAAAAAAMzY/80jDpdXA2cY/s320/Spring+5.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmzSp0YyAUs/TadzY_qZ8EI/AAAAAAAAMzc/KZkgiYjL-GY/s1600/Spring+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmzSp0YyAUs/TadzY_qZ8EI/AAAAAAAAMzc/KZkgiYjL-GY/s320/Spring+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And so it begins, or ends, or, I don't know, what???</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-74266524594301282422011-04-11T10:15:00.001-05:002011-04-11T10:18:17.445-05:00Full CircleThis past Saturday I did two things so reminiscent of my own Mother that I wore my turtle necklace this weekend in honor of her. Here are just two examples:<br />
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#1. Vacuumed the couch while the kids were watching Saturday morning cartoons. How annoying is that?<br />
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#2. Screamed like a lunatic at a sporting event. Yeah, this gal, and I'm not even 40 yet!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKZkoKDK8zA" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Luckily, I picked up a lot of good habits from Mom, too. Here are just two examples:<br />
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#1. Doubled the icing on a favorite cake recipe because you really need that 2:1 ration of icing to cake, then saving a bowl of icing for the kids and I to taste test before the cake is really done.<br />
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#2. Working like a fiend in the garden on a Sunday afternoon while listening to the Brewers trounce the Cubbies. Go Brew Crew!!.<br />
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Thanks Mom, for passing along the good with the bizarre!!!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898387150295648702.post-33929884560556851662011-04-08T09:40:00.000-05:002011-04-08T09:40:03.529-05:00Yes, she said FacebookI've been a lazy blogger this due in part that it took me forever to sign up for <a href="http://facebook.com/">Facebook</a>. Also, I've been spending waaay to much time over at <a href="http://younghouselove.com/">younghouselove.com</a>. Spring is in the air everywhere except actually <em>in the air</em> and I need to hang laundry on the line or something to kick me out of a funk.<br />
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In the meantime, Renee's post on moving and homeschooling was a good one today. Check out <span style="color: blue;"><em>Homeschooling and Moving</em> <span style="color: black;">over at <a href="http://simplehomeschool.net/">simplehomeschool.net</a> today. I'm certainly not ready to rid ourselves of our table time yet, but I can tell, it's going to be a push to be diligent in our full school schedule through May. </span></span><br />
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Pray for us often!!!<br />
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<em>(I've been trying to upload a few pics of the week for a good part of the morning and am having difficulties...just words today!)</em>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02541064967649720103noreply@blogger.com0