Spring Break

Everyone needs a break.

We are no exceptions.

We managed to combine a spring break with some way cool educational opportunities too!

Win-Win

First we visited the Nashville Science Museum

Sawyer LOVED the tornado simulator!

I highly recommend the museum but NOT on a Good Friday, 

especially when it's rainy.

CROWDED

We also did a walking tour of Franklin, Tn

We used an I Spy book written for kids to do this tour.

It was great.  The kids loved it.

The book can be purchased at a bookstore in Franklin.

 Yeah, well.

He stepped into a water puddle and had a wet foot.

But he got over it!

A beautiful small town even on a gloomy, rainy day.

Turner used the 6 and under book but could have completed the book for older children.

Ansley, especially, is a very visual learner.

So this was a perfect adventure for her.

Next we had Easter.

With the cousins!

(caught Sawyer, mid-sneeze and Austin calling for a tissue)

What's Easter without an egg hunt

We also got to visit with my Dad (and his dog)

Loved every minute of our Spring Break.

Especially loved seeing cousins whom I rarely see.

So a special shout out to Deb (and Mike), Martha Lynn, and Annette!

Great to see you guys.

This Week in History

Weather was beautiful.

So lots of outside play.

Eye Appointments

(2 down, 2 to go)

Finished a sewing project

Went to see Swan Lake

Chilly when we went in.

Warm when we came out.

 Orchestra

Ballerinas (even got autographs)

Managed to get in 4 days of school

2 haircuts

Art class

Speech, too.

Happy PI (3.14) Day!

Speaking of pi(e)

Next time you want to make a key lime pie, try this method for separating your yokes.

Even a 5 year old can do it! (Well, almost..)

Many Thanks to the Pioneers

 Definition of Pioneer: 

2. One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development: a pioneer in aviation.

 

Definition of Intolerant:

b : unwilling to grant or share social, political, or professional rights

 

Definition of Ignorant:

3.  uninformed; unaware

 

This is a shout out to the Pioneers of home schooling.  I know for a fact you faced an uphill battle both legally and socially.  I know this because decades after you fought the battle, I still run into to people ignorant about home schooling.  Or worse, intolerant. 

 

People who know someone who was home schooled and turned out to be 'unsocial', 'uneducated', 'un-something'.  (I'm sure they don't know anyone who went to public school like that.)

 

People who believe the only way to get an education to go to public or private school. (It was good enough for them, it is good enough for everyone.)

 

People who believe my child's shyness is because he is home schooled. (Couldn't be a personality trait taken after his introverted mother, who by the way, was schooled in public school.)

 

People who just KNOW my kids will be unprepared to face adult life. (Time will tell, won't it?)

 

People who seriously believe kids should only be around kids their age and sit in rows by alphabetic order. (Because REAL LIFE is all about hanging out with/working with people your exact age with last names beginning with the same letter as yours.)

 

People who believe one size fits all. (Forget S, M, L, XL)

 

People who believe you are putting them down because you chose a different route.  (Not understanding that maybe they are putting me down for my choice.)

People who believe there is only one way to reach a goal. (Interstate?  State route?  country roads?)

If I'm facing this now, I can only imagine what you faced.  So to you pioneers, I tip my hat.  You are awesome and wonderful and amazing.    

 

To those who fall into the intolerant or ignorant category when it comes to home schooling,  nuts to you!

Spring Forward

Spring has Sprung!

This is how I know.....

The dogs need a haircut

The shades come out...

And the hula hoop comes out...

As do the bubbles!

(And yes, they are trying to eat the bubbles...thank you neighbor kids)

Isn't he growing?

The Walking Encyclopdia

The Absent-Minded Professor has been busy lately.

He competed in his scout's Pinewood Derby event.

Star War's Land Speeder

He participated in his home school co-op history fair

Renaissance Europe

And he participated in the World Ed Days.

Word on the street is, he did well!

And Another Thing

It's not all Emergency Rooms

And School Work

We do have some fun too.

SWIM LESSONS!

Ansley had to postpone hers until she healed but she starts next month.

Turner, well let's just say, he's not there yet.

Happy Valentines Day(you may need to pause music at bottom of screen)

Video

Many thanks to my cyber/Down Syndrome/ET adoption friend,

Randi.

I asked many folks for ideas but YOU came to my rescue.

You helped me find new ways to reach him.

For that, I thank you.

You Rock.

Fabulous Friday Fotos

 Love Our Dentist!

It's Friday.

Or as we call it

"DonutCokeDay"

What Do You Do

When your husband comes in carrying your daughter

And says

We need to get her to the ER.

First you Thank God she was wearing her helmet 

when she lost control of her bicycle

Then you call the dentist.

The one you just visited 3 days prior.

The one who said, 

she needs a mouth guard if she is doing contact sports.

Because if she gets hit in the mouth,

her tooth is likely to break.

(It is positioned in such a way....)

Indeed it did break.

Then you head to the ER.

Because her chin is laid open in such a way it looks like she has a 2nd mouth.

 

 

Beyond the pain that was so obvious.

The thing that hurt me most was she said,

"will you stop loving me because I'm broken".

You go through so much.

You think you've made great strides.

Then you realize how precarious your foundation is.

Finished Product

Ansley has been busy since Christmas.

She has sewn 3 pillow cases and 1 apron.

She has also learned to bake a cream cheese pound cake,

for which she won her troop bake off.

Watch out world!

She is going places!

For Posterity (Turn songs off at bottom of page)

Sometimes when you are in the trenches,

It's hard to see progress.

So I wanted to film Sawyer reading and doing his math.

Because he IS making progress.

To some it may be slow

To me, it's pretty darn awesome.

We are making progress.

Slow.Incremental.Progress.

What is everyone else doing?
Anybody else home schooling?

Sad

It's funny.

Everyone in the adoption world seems to know everyone else.

Friends of Friends sort of thing.

(Same holds true for the Down syndrome world too)

Anyway,

I met a lady via the cyber world.

She made wonderful little dresses and skirts that Ansley loved.

They were simple dresses made of  lovely material.

This lady made them in order to raise money to bring her son home from Ethiopia.

I followed this lady through the whole adoption process.

Buying dresses when I could.

Even won one.

Loved her story.

Felt like I knew her.

She died.

Makes me sad.

Here is her story

http://www.ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-beautiful-life-of-sallee-couch.html

Turn Around and You're a Young Girl

Time is flying.

Seems like yesterday,

I was pushing her in a stroller.

Now, she is 8.

She made the cake.

Pink is her signature color!

Not only did she get her favorite breakfast this morning.

Cheese Omelet

She also got to eat lunch at her favorite Mexican restaurant.

And if that was not enough,

Her Girl Scout Father-Daughter dance was tonight!

Happy Birthday, Pooh!

We love you!!!!!