Wow another week has literally flown by! Between my business, homeschooling , my blogging, Girl Scouts and more...all I can say is:

WOW! Another week has gone by!

Friday is my favorite day! That's when Friday Fragments and Virtual Girls Night Out happen! Ok, in my case, it's an all weekend deal sometimes. And there are times when I don't get through all the blogs...but it's so fun....

So, why not kick back and join us now....

And

Please

leave a comment.............I LUV them! Look down there near the Google ads- there is a comment section there...really...


Friday Fragments


Has this ever happened to you?

Last weekend we went to visit a friend. He recently moved back in with his mother to help her out after the stepfather passed away. He is our age, divorced...

Anyway, mom was out of town. We had never been inside the house. There is a combination dining/living room. The house is immaculate. Pictures of family adorn every flat surface.

We're at the table having coffee, and my eyes happened to see a picture- of ME! Or at least I thought it was at first. I almost had a heart attack!

My mom had recently given me an old pic of me from when I was  (much) younger, and skinnier- I had a 'fro and HUGE glasses! This pic was somewhat similar, but not me.

But it made me wonder....you know how when you're a kid and you wonder if you're really adopted and no ones telling you..........

My mind was screaming "NOOOOOOOOO.................."

I mean our friend is ok- for a friend.

He's just not my family-type!

Anyway, guess that was more than a fragment....



Do you ever say this?

I have always said to my kids (as most parents do....) "I can't wait till you have kids! You'll see."

Well, my stepson has a kid- you'all know Little Man....

But does he see? Little Man will ask for apples, plums, oranges, whatever all day long.....at night, guess what I find lying around? Tons of 1/2 eaten fruit!

Guess who is going to stop spending her money on fruit? Not the Little Guys fault, I know. But let the one who keeps shoving food in his mouth buy it....

Then, maybe he'll see!

Hello, what is the date today?

I teach journal writing at a local adult ed center. They were going to run it on Tuesdays, but that is a very busy day for me, so we switched it to Wednesday. I went to go to my first class Wednesday.

It starts NEXT Wednesday. And I checked the paper before I left. I knew the date......don't know why I thought it said this week............

Check out our homeschooling page to see how the Wii has become an educational tool in our household lately. And, you can see my Mii.

Do Yoo have a Mii?

Time to go post on my other blog, make a few calls for the business, then go blog hopping!



Hop on over to Ann's later (she's on pacific time so give her time to post!) and join the party!

Did you go on a field trip this week? Post about it and add your link HERE

You may have noticed by the post below that I am TRYING to Spring Clean............notice I say try! I still need to Spring clean my office space (what there is after moving out of my office!) Still a work in progress....

Ron did a little Spring cleaning himself...he actually had the Black Box taken away by the scrappers. If you don't know about the Black Box, you must not read my blog much!

Just kididng. The Black Box is a vehicle Ron bought that he had on the road a few months, and then somehow it became a woods car- you know, like a lot car, except Ron would drive it in the woods for fun. The kids loved it- the woods are hilly and it's like an obstacle course going around trees. Ron has clipped a few trees to be sure:

Of course the scrapper's were supposed to pick up a van of Ron's that was supposed to be at his old place of business , but his x- boss moved everything to a friend's garage. The friend of the boss told Ron if he tried to move the van, he'll smash it up with a sledge hammer! Cute, huh?

So Ron called the ex-boss and asked him to tell the guy it's ok for Ron to get it. Ron's going to bring the title in case....anywho the Scrapper Dude was getting the Black Box in exchange for picking up the van. I guess now Ron will have to pay him to go out a second time.

Speaking of Ron, he goes to talk with the guy from Rochester on Monday or Tuesday about work. It sounds like a done deal just from phone conversations, but they need to get details ironed out.

It's a gorgeous day out..........I think I'm going to finish up my blogging (did you see my new blog? http://www.athomeonwheels.com/ ? ) and AmeriPlan stuff and do some yard work. The yard needs it.

And....today is Friday! That means Friday Fragments and Virtual Girls Night Out!

Friday Fragments

Infidelity in the farmyard!

Ron took one of the roosters out of the coop and threw him in with the girls (goats). Living with the girls are a chicken that got out one day and we left out, and the ducks.

Recently, we have caught the rooster cheating on his "chick"- he's been trying to get all lovey-dovey with the lady-ducks! Of course, Momma Hen doesn't seem to care- she's like, "Whatever, just leave me alone..."

Guess a little infidelity is ok with her...

Food: What will you eat?

Do you ever watch those shows where the guys go to other countries (even other states!) and eat all kinds of gross stuff? I mean they're eating bugs,and weird animals.......even TESTICALS! Ugh............

Of couse, in other countries, cows are sacred, so our Spaghetti and meatballs may be totally el-gross-o to them!

Me, if I'm going to eat "b_ _ ls", it will be meatballs, thank you!

Speaking of cultural differences...
My son said there's a new girl in school from Washington state. She said she loves it here because we are so relaxed. I guess in her old school, the kids dressed to the 9's, and getting ready in the morning took forever. Here the kids throw on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a Hoody sweatshirt. Ok, NY gals, I know you put a LITTLE more effort into it, but....

When I went to college a few years ago, some of the "kids" came to school in their pajamas!Wondering if any of them are looking to work in their pajamas?

Ok, it's time for me to go add my Friday Field Trip to my homeschooling page, and add content to my At Home On Wheels Blog.

Then, it's off to Virtual Girls Night Out!



Hope to see you there :-]

As many of you are aware, I started home schooling Princess Der this year. She is in 7th grade. No big deal, right? I’ve been through 7th grade. Heck, I even graduated high school early. And I graduated from college a few years ago. I should know it all!

We started home schooling with review to detemine where she’s at in math, grammer, etc….Once I figured out the math myself reminded her how to do stuff, she is ok. So yesterday we started working on Integers. Her bestest friend (also in 7th grade) is working on Integers. So it made sense to do them.



I am proud to say I remembered how to do them. Princess Der didn’t seem to remember doing them before. Yesterday I had a bunch of the greater than/less than (remember the < and > signs?) problems for her to do. She only missed one.

So today we get into adding them. I explain that a positive number plus a positive number is always positive, negative plus negative is always a negative. She got that ok. Mixing the two is a different story. She couldn’t quite get what I was saying when I tried to explain that (+73) + (-55) would = +18. You have to SUBTRACT even though there is a plus sign.

To the rescue- Ron’s oldest son, who is visiting for a few days, and Golden Child. They both said like one sentence to her and she got it…..and thinks it’s great fun. Of course, I haven’t corrected the paper yet.

I’m a bit worried when it gets to higher math. I’m ok with Algebra. I have done it a few times showing the kids before. But trig and other stuff like that? I don’t think so, Charley! Praise the Lord for my home schooling co-op and online school. Of course, I’ll learn Trig & stuff when The Princess does, I’m sure J

On to Grammar… It was the shocker for me to realize how much I don’t know! I mean, I was an excellent reading/English student. In grade school, I would correct the teacher! When my high school teachers assigned essays or compositions…the whole class would moan. Except me of course. Ideas would flood my brain. I would write and rewrite. I would get A’s. One teacher even entered a poem of mine in a magazine.

In recent years, I’ve been published several times in a local parenting magazine, I have written online articles (www.buzzle.com) and have a couple of blogs and websites. I teach journal writing to adults, and I own a home biz….

How in the world did I get away with all of this with my limited knowledge?

I do not remember learning about Pronoun Genders in either high school or college. You know, Masculine, Feminine or Neuter? Guess it is common sense, but never heard of it, and who cares?

I also don’t remember the words preposition, conjunction and dangling modifiers.


As you can tell from reading my writing……

Did I sleep through school or didn't they teach that stuff  30 years ago back then?

But honestly, when it comes time to “clean it up” and write a clear, concise piece in 300 words or less for a magazine, I can easily do it. My blog is my time when I can use those (Oh so necessary!) parenthesis, all those…….’s, and etc, etc, etc’s ! Oh yeah, and the !!!!!!!!!!!!!’s

So really, did I miss out on all that much! Then again, think where I can go if I REALLY learn grammar and how to write….

….hmmmm…..(need to stop typing all those….., etc)

We survived the first week of working at home and home schooling together! The funny thing is, I got just as much work done, and also got more organized!

My daughter organized coupons for me. I haven't used coupons in a few years, but vowed to start doing it again. Not only do you save money, it's a great homeschooling education.

I have been getting some paperwork in better order. I usually have piles laying around- NO More!



Tomorrow, we have a wedding to go to. Not sure if we are going or not- it's not someone we are close to- in fact, I've never met them. Ron works on the guys truck now & then. There is also a Fall Festival going on AND a boat show! I THINK I want a big, fancy boat someday! I say think because I have never been on a cruiser with the exception of the one owned by the doctor I used to work for. He had an OLD, OLD boat. This is more like what I want:




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The Fair last Saturday was ok. By the time we left, my daughter was practically screaming in pain. She has problems with her ankles due to the Juvenile Rheumatiod Arthritis. She had her first shot a few days before, but I guess it hadn't kicked in yet.
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Had a phone call yesterday from Ron's ex. She has been living in Vermont for years. 6 months- a year ago, she moved back into the area. His oldest son, whom I have only met once, stayed in Vermont with his girlfriend. Yesterday, when the ex called, she said the son wanted to speak with Ron, that he was living here now. All I could think was, "Oh no, hope he doesn't need a place to live!" We already have 3 sons/step-sons 18 yrs- 30 yrs. old staying here. Come to find out, he just wants to get together. Ron told him maybe we'll cook out Sunday and he can come over and see his brother's and the nephew he's never met (That would be Little Man!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yesterday Princess Der had another Methatrexate(sp?) shot. She had a horrible belly ache last night, but seem ok now. She did pretty good this past week. Very little pain with the exception of the Fair


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It's Friday! Virtual Girls Night Out!

Hop on over to Ann's blog and add your link. Check out the other blogs listed and leave a comment.

http://annagain66.blogspot.com/
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P.S.

You'all need to hop over to Morgan's page, Donate Turkey's. Morgan is the daughter of Angie from Metamorphisis. She is doing a community service project where she has to collect & donate 500 turkeys! This girl has a great heart & she needs help. So visit her new blog and see how you can help.

Later!

Today is our first day of homeschooling. I am both a little apprehensive and a bit excited. I do know that I feel so blessed to be able to even attempt this. If I weren't working at home, I don't think I could even contemplate such a hairbrained idea. Thank You, AmeriPlan for giving me this opportunity to be home and assist my daughter on her learning journey.

It is almost 10 a.m.. We got started around 9:15, and my daughter has already finished 2 subjects. Granted I wasn't sure how much to give. I was going with about how much work I would see come home when she was out sick. I know the first few weeks will be seeing "where she's at" and learning her unique learning style.

She slept right through the whole school bus thing. I was afraid she would be sad seeing it go by. Nope-she slept. A half hour or so later, she got up... for a few minutes. She said she wanted to go back to bed. I told her to go ahead!

I mean, I told her I was going to try to work it so any "book work" was done by noon. Art, science experiements,going to the YMCA, organ lessons and real living stuff (shopping, etc..) in the afternoon.

But, if she wants to take until 9 p.m. to do her paper and book work, well...no play or TV until it's done.

Anyhoo, must get to work. Say a prayer for me!

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Today was my daughters official last day of "Institutional-type" school- at least for now. We will see how she does with a summer full of schoolwork.

We have technically already started. The other day, we ran into ANOTHER person I have been wanting to see. A girl that volunteers at the library where I used to work. She is volunteering through Girl Scouts, and she is homeschooled. We stopped by the library and she happened to be there. She is 16 and has always been homeschooled.

She spoke quite extensivally about homeschooling styles, curriculum and the homeschool co-op where you can take classes with other homeschoolers. She talked to my daughter about homeschooling and the responsibilities associated with it.

Yesterday, we purchased some books to use until I figure out what we will really be doing. Ironically, my daughter wanted workbooks. We got two for math, one for English and one on Rocks & minerals since that is what she wants to study for science right now.

I also grabbed the Farmers Almanac. I figure it's packed with great tips and advice, and we can compare the "actual" weather compared to what they predicted. Then, my eyes hit " Wacky Facts and Fun Activities. The Old Farmers Almanac for kids." I HAD to get it! What a wealth of info and cool stuff!

I also got a game called, "Let's go shopping". It is basically a game where you have to do Math problems- you have to answer the question correctly to proceed and go to store and "buy" stuff. I was surprised to learn my daughter, who is entering 7th grade, did not know what concept to use for this:

Two boys purchase a snowboard and goggles for a friend. How much is it costing each of them? My daughter knew to add the cost of the items, but then she asked, " What do I do next? I forgot."

This just reaffirms my reason for maybe embarking on the Homeschool Express!

I have been reading homeschooling books. As far as history and geography, etc... they suggest either starting with your home town and branching out to learning about the world, or vice-versa. We are starting with our town as there was actually a book published about the area. In an hour or so, we are venturing down to the cemetary where the town founder and his family are buried.

I also have a great teen bible I purchased for my daughter for her birthday. Although I have been lax about going to church in recent years, she enjoys going to teen night at church.

So later today I am going to have her write a piece about what she hopes to get out of homeschooling & I will do the same. Then, we will come up with a Mission Statement and discuss how we want to conduct our days.

I'm excited to see what my daughter writes.

Gotta go!

Later!

Well summertime is here, which brings some new challenges to my work at home experience . Namely, a bored (almost) 12 year old, Princess Der. We are a little late in figuring out some summer activities.

The first week in July brings my sister all the way from Virginia. She will be taking my daughter camping for a few days along with a couple of cousins. While she's gone, Ron & I are off to Dallas, to the AmeriPlan Convention- I am psyched! I still don't have anything to wear, but I'll get to that soon :-)

Our county has some great programs for kids- kind of costly- around $75.00-$80.00 per class, but they are good. They are for 1/2 day, and run for a week. Last year my daughter got her babysitting certification and took a wood working class. She enjoyed both immensely. This year she wants to take baking and something to do with spa & beauty stuff or something.

We already have a music camp scheduled that runs a few days. That was free- I couldn't believe it, and they serve lunch!

Our library has a summer reading program. For the 3 years that I worked at the library, my daughter couldn't really get involved, because she was at summer camp all day. Now I'm home, and she is in with the teens, which she will really like. They always have a college student or older teen run the program. The kids really like that.

We also have some great sports and arts programs through the town. My daughter really wants to do archery, but her Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis really affects her hands and wrists, so she's not sure she could pull on the bow string (or whatever it's called). We're not sure if any of the programs are for her, as all dates conflict with other things.

We are also playing "school" this summer. Home school, that is. My daughter wants to be home schooled and personally, I feel in some ways school has failed her. She has always been super-smart. In preschool, K & 1st grade, the teachers thought she was brillant. Her Kindergarten teacher said she was like a sponge, she just "thirsted" for knowledge and soaked it all up. Enter 2nd grade- it was like they were talking about a different kid! She didn't like school, couldn't get work done on time, etc...etc... Ironically it was second grade where my oldest started having problems. He literally skipped school, was kicked out of school, or just plain zoned out at school from 6th grade on. He never really learned algebra, but was always a math wiz. Took his GED when he was 18, passed with flying colors!

And Golden Child has proven that traditional education wasn't for him. Enter alternative school- the kid is flying through Independent Studies,he ALMOST graduated on time, despite failing 6th grade. He doubled up here & there and was just 3 classes short of graduating this year.

So this makes me wonder if "school" is the right thing for Princess Der. This kid spends the majority of her day on learning activities- playing school, reading, playing educational Internet games. So, why not expand on that and see what happens?

Oh course I have no plans yet......

Although I AM reading an excellent book on home schooling which just fires me up more!

So.... I'll keep you'all posted.

Feel free to comment with any good home schooling sites or advice.