As any Mom worth her salt knows, summer has little to do with the date on the calendar marked as "first day of summer". It's all about the date the school shuts and locks its doors.
Since my kids attend two schools, that means two first days of summer in our household. The first was yesterday, as my youngest walked out of his school doors for the last time as a freshman.
The others will finish up next week, so they still had to trudge off to the bus this morning with heads hung low.
Summer with school-aged children is a funny thing, isn't it? When we Moms make it to the final stretch, we're nearly as giddy with anticipation as our kids. We cannot WAIT for school to be over with. No more begging/pleading/cajoling/demanding on issues of homework, studying, books, papers, projects. No more dance recitals, play practice, after-school activities. No more lunch money, lunch-packing, permission slips, field trips, field days, teacher conferences. We think of long lazy days and watermelon and beaches and pools and the smell of sunblock and the warmth of the sun and good books and roadside stands overflowing with fresh goodies. Like our kids, we feel FREE.
But then by the end of the summer? We become just as giddy over the thought of them returning to school. No more sun-up to sun-down bickering, boredom. No more messes. Well, scratch that. Still plenty of mess, just seven hours less in the day for them to create those messes. Seven hours less in the day for them to suck every crumb out of your cabinets and yell "There's nothing to eeeeeeeeatt!!!" We dream of quiet houses, changing the radio station from pop to classic rock, fall leaves, cool weather, sweatshirts and jeans, quiet...
So for me, and probably for most parents, the summer solstice is not about the point at which days go from getting longer to getting shorter or about the beginning of the summer season. Rather, it is the tipping point of summer break when we go from being glad school is over to counting down the days till it starts back up again. My solstice typically arrives sometime in late July, but of course that depends very much on how my little angels are behaving. If they act more like the young adults most of them are, my solstice may never come. If they carry on like over-sugared 3rd graders at a birthday party, my solstice may very well arrive before summer truly begins.
Here's hoping for a late solstice.
Happy summer, everyone!
Image source
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
The Cinnamon Challenge
I saw a story on the news a few nights ago about some kids needing to be sent from school to the hospital because they partook in the "cinnamon challenge".
Haven't heard of it?
Then I guess your kids are smarter than mine.
The "challenge" is to try to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon without any liquids. Usually it results in a bunch of coughing and sputtering and the feeling that you never want to look at another cinnamon roll again so long as you live.
Or so they tell me.
Image source
So anyway, some grade school kids brought some cinnamon in to school and tried it at lunch and it apparently did not go well.
And the news report featured some "man on the street" interviews on the topic.
Folks were outraged....
"They should provide more supervision in the lunchroom!"
"It comes down to the parents. They should know what their kids are doing and be able to prevent this kind of thing!"
Good thing they didn't interview me. I would have said,
"Kids are stupid!"
End of story.
*********************************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.

Thanks!
Haven't heard of it?
Then I guess your kids are smarter than mine.
The "challenge" is to try to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon without any liquids. Usually it results in a bunch of coughing and sputtering and the feeling that you never want to look at another cinnamon roll again so long as you live.
Or so they tell me.
Image source
So anyway, some grade school kids brought some cinnamon in to school and tried it at lunch and it apparently did not go well.
And the news report featured some "man on the street" interviews on the topic.
Folks were outraged....
"They should provide more supervision in the lunchroom!"
"It comes down to the parents. They should know what their kids are doing and be able to prevent this kind of thing!"
Good thing they didn't interview me. I would have said,
"Kids are stupid!"
End of story.
*********************************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Teacher Gifts
For years I struggled to find the perfect end-of-the-year teacher gift. Something personal, practical, and, with six kids in school, one that wouldn't break the bank.
After trying everything from homemade cookies in a jar to store bought chatchki, I finally arrived at something that fit the bill: a simple bookmark.
On stock paper, I print three bookmarks per page, each with a few words praising teachers. I add pictures of my children, have them write a few words of thanks and sign their name, and then run over to the local print shop to get them laminated.
On the back I affix a gift card to a book store, so the recipient can purchase a book for summer reading.
My children have been giving these to their teachers for several years now and we love them because they have all the things I look for:
Practical: teachers, books, bookmarks. No brainer.
Personal: Pictures and a few words from my kids makes this a very personal gift, even though we make them assembly line style.
Inexpensive: The bookmarks themselves cost next to nothing to make, and the gift cards can be any value that fits your budget. I often make 15 of these or more, so for me, money matters!
Appreciation: The teachers have told me how much they love getting these. They like that it is something that they can use and won't end up in the back of a closet, and that their student took the time to write a few words of thanks.

*************
Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
*************
Rudeness disclaimer:
I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.
After trying everything from homemade cookies in a jar to store bought chatchki, I finally arrived at something that fit the bill: a simple bookmark.
On stock paper, I print three bookmarks per page, each with a few words praising teachers. I add pictures of my children, have them write a few words of thanks and sign their name, and then run over to the local print shop to get them laminated.
On the back I affix a gift card to a book store, so the recipient can purchase a book for summer reading.
My children have been giving these to their teachers for several years now and we love them because they have all the things I look for:
Practical: teachers, books, bookmarks. No brainer.
Personal: Pictures and a few words from my kids makes this a very personal gift, even though we make them assembly line style.
Inexpensive: The bookmarks themselves cost next to nothing to make, and the gift cards can be any value that fits your budget. I often make 15 of these or more, so for me, money matters!
Appreciation: The teachers have told me how much they love getting these. They like that it is something that they can use and won't end up in the back of a closet, and that their student took the time to write a few words of thanks.

*************
Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
*************
Rudeness disclaimer:
I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
IEP Means I'm Extremely Proud
Last week I attended the IEP meeting for my son James.
For those of you who may be new here, James is my second oldest child, and he joined our family via adoption a little over four years ago when he was 13 and several inches shorter than I. He is now 18 years old and he towers over me.
Helping James to find his way, to find his place in our family, has been a challenge because James is dealing with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This has caused him to have trouble being successful in school, as well, and so a couple of years ago we initiated an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for him.
A large focus with the IEP has been to get his basic academics up to a satisfactory level, but it also addresses his ability to handle stress and frustration in the school setting, as this has been something he has struggled with since he first started school here in America.
But now? That goal for dealing with frustration has been dropped from the IEP.
Why? Simply because he is now able to handle those frustrations within the classroom instead of having an "escape route".
This is huge.
Teachers flitted in and out of the meeting to give updates on how he was doing in each of their classes.
The phrase "model student" is something I heard.
Several times.
Model. Student.
Those words mean more to me than all the numbers on the state standardized tests and the test grades and the PSATs combined.
I am soooo, so proud of my boy.
Well done, James.
Well done....

*************
Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
*************
Check out my blog-hoppin' schedule in my sidebar, and come join the fun!
*************
Rudeness disclaimer:
I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.
For those of you who may be new here, James is my second oldest child, and he joined our family via adoption a little over four years ago when he was 13 and several inches shorter than I. He is now 18 years old and he towers over me.
Helping James to find his way, to find his place in our family, has been a challenge because James is dealing with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This has caused him to have trouble being successful in school, as well, and so a couple of years ago we initiated an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for him.
A large focus with the IEP has been to get his basic academics up to a satisfactory level, but it also addresses his ability to handle stress and frustration in the school setting, as this has been something he has struggled with since he first started school here in America.
But now? That goal for dealing with frustration has been dropped from the IEP.
Why? Simply because he is now able to handle those frustrations within the classroom instead of having an "escape route".
This is huge.
Teachers flitted in and out of the meeting to give updates on how he was doing in each of their classes.
The phrase "model student" is something I heard.
Several times.
Model. Student.
Those words mean more to me than all the numbers on the state standardized tests and the test grades and the PSATs combined.
I am soooo, so proud of my boy.
Well done, James.
Well done....
*************
Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
*************
Check out my blog-hoppin' schedule in my sidebar, and come join the fun!
*************
Rudeness disclaimer:
I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
A Moment of Silence
OK, so today I can't do it.
It's not about the blogging.
It's not about the hopping or the voting.
It's not about funny Christmas anecdotes or cute crafts or Pin-worthy recipes.
It's about sending out our prayers to the families of the victims of the Newtown, CT school shooting.
It's about sending out the message to our political leaders about gun control. About getting security in our schools.
It's about trying to understand, but never really getting there...
To the families of the teachers,
To the parents and the siblings of the little children,
As empty as this may sound, my thoughts and prayers are with you....
It's not about the blogging.
It's not about the hopping or the voting.
It's not about funny Christmas anecdotes or cute crafts or Pin-worthy recipes.
It's about sending out our prayers to the families of the victims of the Newtown, CT school shooting.
It's about sending out the message to our political leaders about gun control. About getting security in our schools.
It's about trying to understand, but never really getting there...
To the families of the teachers,
To the parents and the siblings of the little children,
As empty as this may sound, my thoughts and prayers are with you....
Thursday, October 11, 2012
I Need Therapy Thursday - Lunch-Schmunch. Munch.
I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a Pinterest addict.
Gotta have me some Pinterest every fewdays hours or I start getting all itchy and twitchy.
Some of the things I see on there make me all swooney and teary and fill me with a false sense of confidence.
Other things leave me scratching my head and muttering "What the...?"
Case in point: school lunches.
There seems to be a new trend in getting all cutesy and creative when packing your kids' lunch for school.
Now, for someone like me that doesn't even make her kids ANY lunch, a PB-and-J would be considered cutesy and creative.
But these lunches are, well they're frightening to me, to be quite honest.
Here are a few examples...
Because first of all, if you have that much time on your hands in the monrings when you're packing your kids off to school, you're doing something wrong. Have you never heard of the snooze button?
Secondly, do you bubble-wrap the Tuppperware and personally deliver lunch to your kid at the cafeteria? Because no way in hell will it look like that once your darling has opened the lid of his Avengers lunchbox after it's been tossed around on the bus and in the coat cubby all morning.
Thirdly, well I have no thirdly. I'm speechless.
Like I said, I don't do lunches for my kids anymore. Haven't for a few years now. They are all perfectly capable of spreading penaut butter on bread and grabbing a fruit cup from the pantry. And they're usually better than I am at finding errant water bottles to fill.
And before you go getting all judgy on me for not nurturing my kids enough, I DO make them breakfast, so there. They get a hot breakfast
and no, it does look like this...
And I get to spend more time on my laptop looking up pictures of lunches created by Moms a little too close to the edge of sanity for my comfort level.
We all win.
Images courtesy: foodimentary.com, today.msnbc.msn.comShare, followpics.com, spoonful.com
*********************
Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, Natural Living Mamma's Natural Living Mondays, The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks, A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras Link-Up, and @ Home Take 2's Mom's Monday Mingle
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and The Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny, Tilly's Nest's Down Home, and Crafty Spices Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop, and Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, Little Becky Homecky's Fantabulous Friday, and Oh So Amelia's Friday Chaos
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up.
Since today is Thursday, that means I'm linking my post "Sniffing the Vomit" with Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer, and "Chick Update" with A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop.
Come join the fun!
Gotta have me some Pinterest every few
Some of the things I see on there make me all swooney and teary and fill me with a false sense of confidence.
Other things leave me scratching my head and muttering "What the...?"
Case in point: school lunches.
There seems to be a new trend in getting all cutesy and creative when packing your kids' lunch for school.
Now, for someone like me that doesn't even make her kids ANY lunch, a PB-and-J would be considered cutesy and creative.
But these lunches are, well they're frightening to me, to be quite honest.
Here are a few examples...
Because first of all, if you have that much time on your hands in the monrings when you're packing your kids off to school, you're doing something wrong. Have you never heard of the snooze button?
Secondly, do you bubble-wrap the Tuppperware and personally deliver lunch to your kid at the cafeteria? Because no way in hell will it look like that once your darling has opened the lid of his Avengers lunchbox after it's been tossed around on the bus and in the coat cubby all morning.
Thirdly, well I have no thirdly. I'm speechless.
Like I said, I don't do lunches for my kids anymore. Haven't for a few years now. They are all perfectly capable of spreading penaut butter on bread and grabbing a fruit cup from the pantry. And they're usually better than I am at finding errant water bottles to fill.
And before you go getting all judgy on me for not nurturing my kids enough, I DO make them breakfast, so there. They get a hot breakfast
and no, it does look like this...
And I get to spend more time on my laptop looking up pictures of lunches created by Moms a little too close to the edge of sanity for my comfort level.
We all win.
Images courtesy: foodimentary.com, today.msnbc.msn.comShare, followpics.com, spoonful.com
*********************
Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, Natural Living Mamma's Natural Living Mondays, The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks, A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras Link-Up, and @ Home Take 2's Mom's Monday Mingle
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and The Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny, Tilly's Nest's Down Home, and Crafty Spices Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop, and Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, Little Becky Homecky's Fantabulous Friday, and Oh So Amelia's Friday Chaos
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up.
Since today is Thursday, that means I'm linking my post "Sniffing the Vomit" with Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer, and "Chick Update" with A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop.
Come join the fun!
Labels:
food,
kids,
motherhood,
school
Thursday, October 4, 2012
I-Need-Therapy-Thursday: Sniffng the Vomit.
My youngest came to me yesterday morning before school, holding up a wad of papertowels soaked with a nasty, brownish substance.
"Mom? I threw up. But I cleaned it up."
He walked to the kitchen trash can and threw it out.
I lifted the lid, reached in and pulled out the paper towels.
I held it up to my face and took a big whiff.
insert sound of needle scratching across record
What the...?
See folks, there's a backstory here.
This particular child of mine is, let's say, not fond of school.
In the past he has duped me (more than once, shame on me) into believing he was sick enough to miss school. Here are a few of his tactics:
*Fever: warmed his head with a space heater
*Diarrhea: put Hershey's cocoa powder in the toilet and swirled it around
*Vomiting: held water in his mouth (he can even talk a little bit this way) and then spit it up on the drive to school after it had been properly thickened with saliva.
Oh and there's more. Trust me, there's more.
So obviously, my instinct to sniff the vomit had merit.
The result?
Cinnamon and water.
It looked good. Pretty realistic. Who knew? The kid's got talent.
If only he could use his powers for good instead of evil....
*********************
What's this? Only two votes away from being back in the teens on Top Mommy Blogs? Very cool. At least, very cool for me in my little corner of the world.
Please everyone remember to click the brown button of the juggling chick. You can click to vote every day.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks, A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras Link-Up, and @ Home Take 2's Mom's Monday Mingle
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and The Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny, Tilly's Nest's Down Home, and Crafty Spices Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop, and Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, Little Becky Homecky's Fantabulous Friday, and Oh So Amelia's Friday Chaos
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up.
Since today is Thursday, that means I'm linking my post "Mid-week Date For a 40-something House Frau" with Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer, and "Meat-n-Greet" with A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop.
Come join the fun!
Labels:
Daniel,
kids,
motherhood,
school
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Double Message
When I attended the middle school back-to-school night last week, I felt like there was something bothering me, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Was it the 95 degree heat?
Was it the 47,000 papers I was supposed to take with me now that our school is paper-free?
Was it the mwa-mwah-mw-mwa-mwa-mwahhh quality of the PA system?
No. It was none of those things.
But on the drive home, I figured it out.
It was the double message that we parents are subjected to when it comes to parental involvement in our children's education.
On the one hand, we are told that our children have reached an age where they need to learn independence. We snicker at the idea of "helicopter" parents. We shake our heads in dismay at parents who micromanage every step of their child's education. We enthusiastically agree that we need to let our juniors falter here and there, so they can learn from their mistakes. Learn to organize and manage their time and study without parents questioning them, checking up on them, editing for them, doing their work for them.
And I agree. With all of it.
But on the other hand, we're supposed to log in daily to check teacher websites and Parent Portal, so we can get up-to-the-minute updates on what was assigned and when it is due. We are expected to check agenda books as our darlings walk in the door. We should know the syllabus, understand the grading system for each class, and ensure that homework is completed neatly, accurately, and on time.
One teacher even let us in on the fact that she can check Parent Portal, too. She can see which parents logged in, and how long they stayed on for! So now I can add log-in time on Parent Portal to my keeping-up-with-the-Joneses list.
Great.
My idea of homework help can be boiled down to two questions:
"Do you have any homework tonight?"
"Did you do it?"
Why do I need to look up which pages and numbers were assigned? Isn't that my kids job?
I don't know if I'm old-fashioned or lazy or if maybe I just have too much faith in my kids, but I don't wanna go there. I don't think we should go there.
Everyone loves to throw around the words accountability, responsibility, and independence, all the while throwing more of those things into the laps of the parents and less in the hands of the kids.
And as parents, we're stuck in the mud. If our childfails struggles, it's b/c we dropped the ball. We didn't look to see when that assignment was due or we didn't keep the arsenal of poster board topped off, or the number two pencils sharpened to surgical precision.
On the other hand, if we have produced a high school student that can'twipe his own butt fill out a job application or register to vote, we have coddled too much and not allowed him to think and do on his own.
So c'mon teachers. I love ya', but you can't have it both ways. In the interest ofcontinuing my lazy parenting style producing independent thinkers and doers, ask not what I can do for my child, ask what he can do for himself.
Image courtesy: Gary Larsen, via rethinkhr.org
*****************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop and A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras.
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Saturday, that means I'm linking my post "How to Grow Healthy Pumpkins" with Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up, and "Another Shoebox Funeral" with Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop.
Come join the fun!
Was it the 95 degree heat?
Was it the 47,000 papers I was supposed to take with me now that our school is paper-free?
Was it the mwa-mwah-mw-mwa-mwa-mwahhh quality of the PA system?
No. It was none of those things.
But on the drive home, I figured it out.
It was the double message that we parents are subjected to when it comes to parental involvement in our children's education.
On the one hand, we are told that our children have reached an age where they need to learn independence. We snicker at the idea of "helicopter" parents. We shake our heads in dismay at parents who micromanage every step of their child's education. We enthusiastically agree that we need to let our juniors falter here and there, so they can learn from their mistakes. Learn to organize and manage their time and study without parents questioning them, checking up on them, editing for them, doing their work for them.
And I agree. With all of it.
But on the other hand, we're supposed to log in daily to check teacher websites and Parent Portal, so we can get up-to-the-minute updates on what was assigned and when it is due. We are expected to check agenda books as our darlings walk in the door. We should know the syllabus, understand the grading system for each class, and ensure that homework is completed neatly, accurately, and on time.
One teacher even let us in on the fact that she can check Parent Portal, too. She can see which parents logged in, and how long they stayed on for! So now I can add log-in time on Parent Portal to my keeping-up-with-the-Joneses list.
Great.
My idea of homework help can be boiled down to two questions:
"Do you have any homework tonight?"
"Did you do it?"
Why do I need to look up which pages and numbers were assigned? Isn't that my kids job?
I don't know if I'm old-fashioned or lazy or if maybe I just have too much faith in my kids, but I don't wanna go there. I don't think we should go there.
Everyone loves to throw around the words accountability, responsibility, and independence, all the while throwing more of those things into the laps of the parents and less in the hands of the kids.
And as parents, we're stuck in the mud. If our child
On the other hand, if we have produced a high school student that can't
So c'mon teachers. I love ya', but you can't have it both ways. In the interest of
Image courtesy: Gary Larsen, via rethinkhr.org
*****************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop and A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras.
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Saturday, that means I'm linking my post "How to Grow Healthy Pumpkins" with Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up, and "Another Shoebox Funeral" with Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop.
Come join the fun!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Wordless Wednesday
First Day of School!
Monday for oldest five, Wednesday for the youngest.
Patrick, high school senior.
James, high school junior.
Rosie, high school freshman.
Bella, middle school 8th grader.
Julie, middle school 8th grader.
The motley crew.
Here comes the bus....
Have a nice day, my dears....
Bwahaha!
****************
Daniel, weird private school mix of 8th and 9th grade.
Yes.
That is an Amish hat he's wearing.
************
Hello? Is this thing on? For some reason, my ratings on the Top Mommy Blog thing have been slipping lately, though my blog views are way up (thanks to all my awesome followers, new and old!). Can you take a sec to vote so I can get back on the first page? I hate not being in the top 25. Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Wednesday, that means I'm linking up my post "Comin' Atya Live" with My Life and Kids Finding the Funny. Come join the fun!
Monday for oldest five, Wednesday for the youngest.
Patrick, high school senior.
James, high school junior.
Rosie, high school freshman.
Bella, middle school 8th grader.
Julie, middle school 8th grader.
The motley crew.
Here comes the bus....
Have a nice day, my dears....
Bwahaha!
****************
Daniel, weird private school mix of 8th and 9th grade.
Yes.
That is an Amish hat he's wearing.
************
Hello? Is this thing on? For some reason, my ratings on the Top Mommy Blog thing have been slipping lately, though my blog views are way up (thanks to all my awesome followers, new and old!). Can you take a sec to vote so I can get back on the first page? I hate not being in the top 25. Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Wednesday, that means I'm linking up my post "Comin' Atya Live" with My Life and Kids Finding the Funny. Come join the fun!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
A Tip for Tuesday
OK, for all you Moms of school aged kids out there, I'ma gonna lay a tip on ya'.
And I'm even going to play off my recent post "I Hate Frugality."
All those leftover notebooks of your kids from last year? You're going to repurpose one of them to be used as a
Sh** I Have To Sign For School Notebook.
I've just taken a run-of-the-mill comp book, ripped all the used pages out (recycled them, of course), and if I sign something for school? I write it down in the notebook.

[I have not yet gotten crafty with my notebook. This is the sad state I found it in.]
Now, I just keep a simple running tab. New date, new sh** to sign, new page.
I write down the date I received it, what the form was (like a permission slip, the parent/teacher contract, syllabus, whatever), and when it was sent back in with the kid.

Then later, when I get one of those e-mails from a teacher that says,
"Thanks to all the parents who sent in the blah-blah-blah. Your cooperation is appreciated. For those schmucks who haven't sent it in yet, get your act together. We all know who you are and we laugh about your ineptitude in carline."
I can confidently pull out my trusty
Sh** I Have To Sign For School Notebook.
and see at a glance if indeed I did send in the blah-blah-blah or if it is truly time to panic.
Now, you can go ahead and get all fancy with it if you want. Three kids? How about a 3-subject notebook? Whatever floats your boat. Point is, write it down. Because if you're anything like me, no WAY you can keep it all straight up in your noggin.
And there you have....
My Tip For Tuesday!
You're welcome.
*********************
Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "Comin' Atya Live" with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, and "It's Good to be Home" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday.
Come join the fun!
And I'm even going to play off my recent post "I Hate Frugality."
All those leftover notebooks of your kids from last year? You're going to repurpose one of them to be used as a
Sh** I Have To Sign For School Notebook.
I've just taken a run-of-the-mill comp book, ripped all the used pages out (recycled them, of course), and if I sign something for school? I write it down in the notebook.
[I have not yet gotten crafty with my notebook. This is the sad state I found it in.]
Now, I just keep a simple running tab. New date, new sh** to sign, new page.
I write down the date I received it, what the form was (like a permission slip, the parent/teacher contract, syllabus, whatever), and when it was sent back in with the kid.
Then later, when I get one of those e-mails from a teacher that says,
"Thanks to all the parents who sent in the blah-blah-blah. Your cooperation is appreciated. For those schmucks who haven't sent it in yet, get your act together. We all know who you are and we laugh about your ineptitude in carline."
I can confidently pull out my trusty
Sh** I Have To Sign For School Notebook.
and see at a glance if indeed I did send in the blah-blah-blah or if it is truly time to panic.
Now, you can go ahead and get all fancy with it if you want. Three kids? How about a 3-subject notebook? Whatever floats your boat. Point is, write it down. Because if you're anything like me, no WAY you can keep it all straight up in your noggin.
And there you have....
My Tip For Tuesday!
You're welcome.
*********************
Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "Comin' Atya Live" with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, and "It's Good to be Home" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday.
Come join the fun!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Mirth Monday: Comin' Atya Live
Five of the six started school today.
Posted this on my old blog last year. It's my comical view of the goings-on of the first day of school.
What would the commentators say at YOUR house?
*****************
Thank you for joining us live at the farmhouse on this beautiful morning. I'm Earl E. Rizer ....
And I'm Dewey Riley Kaire ....
And we'll be covering the Annual First Day of School event for you all morning.
That's right Earl. This much anticipated event pits two formidable enemies against each other: Mommankidz vs The Bus. We've got a bird's eye view of the Mommankidz team, who should be appearing on the scene any moment now, as well as audio feed that will give us live updates on The Bus as things unfold.
Although Mommankidz has a pretty strong track record, there are those that wonder how they'll fare in this event. My sources tell me that instead of using the summer to train, they've been undisciplined in their sleep habits and have only worked together as a cohesive team on a handful of occassions all summer long.
That's right Earl. In contrast, The Bus is fully prepared. It's been washed, fueled, tuned-up, and had a strong performance in the Bus Rodeo over the summer.
This will be an interesting competition to say the least ....
And here they come now, onto the field. It's just Mom at the moment but she's giving a strong first impression as she appears to be showered and dressed.
She's heading straight to the coffee pot, no surprise there, and then over to the stove. She seems to be doing something .... Dewey, it looks like she's making breakfast.
Well, Earl, that's an impressive start as they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I don't think anyone was expecting that.
Maybe they have a stronger shot at this than we thought. Do you think ....
Hold that thought, Earl, I believe another player is arriving on the scene. Yes, it's #1, in the position of high school freshman. Will he be a help or a hindrance to this team, do you think, Earl?
Hard to say, Dewey, hard to say. He's walking over to Mom .... he gives her a hug!
Wow, great move. But let's see how he handles breakfast. He looks into the pot ....and he smiles! He helps himself to a bowl of the steaming oatmeal as the crowd goes wild. This is a very strong start for Team Mommankidz.
And here come #2 and #3, both in the position of middle schoolers. On their heels is player #5. Anything could happen now, and the crowd seems to be holding its collective breath.
Earl, they've ALL taken bowls of oatmeal and have sat down to eat! Is there no stopping this team?
Yes, things are looking incredibly good for this team, but let's not forget it is early in the game, and not all the players have joined us yet.
Well, but here comes #6, the youngest player on the team. These rookies can be a handful and it takes a strong coach to keep their energies in check. Let's watch what happens ....
Dewey, it looks like he's walking over to the pot .....he looks in..... and he makes a face. Now he's whining! Oh, this is bad news for Mom. They argue for a bit .... and now he is heading to the freezer for frozen waffles. Disaster averted for the moment.
Earl, I have to wonder where player #4 is. She seems to be the only one missing at this point.
Perhaps the alarm clock fairy didn't call on her this morning, Dewey. Let's see if Mom is aware of this. She's watching the other players eat breakfast.... she sips her coffee .....she sneaks a look at the clock and by golly there she goes, up the stairs like a jackrabbit. She's a pretty, er, seasoned member of this team, but she's got speed when she needs it.
And here she comes back down the stairs with a confused and sleepy looking player #4. Mom has a bowl of oatmeal in front of her before you can say "what's for breakfast".
Dewey, I've just gotten word that the Busdriver is in the Bus. I repeat, the Busdriver is IN the Bus. The engines are revved and the wheels are rolling.
This makes things interesting, Earl. Mommankidz has had a pretty smooth start to this competition, but there's a long way to go and anything could happen.
Back at the Farmhouse, the dishes are cleared and they're moving on to teeth and hair. Mom is directing her players left and right and there's lots of movement. Oooh, player #4 seems to have a knot in her hair. Mom rushes to the scene and applies tangle spray and goes to work getting the tangle out. The player winces. That's gotta hurt.
Earl, it looks like there's trouble in the bathroom. The players are fighting over who was at the sink first and whose toothpaste is whose for crying out loud.
Dewey, Mom's no newcomer to multitasking, but let's see how she handles this. It looks like she's got #4 by the hair and is sidestepping her over to where she has line of sight to the bathroom. She's still working on that tangle, and now she is calling out to the players in the bathroom.
Earl, it's times like these that I'm glad we can't actually hear what they're saying out on the field, because it doesn't look pretty, my friend.
Well, whatever it is, it seems to have had some effect. The players in the bathroom are brushing their teeth like nobody's business.
And the last of the tangle seems to have been conquered as well, Earl. Looks like this team is back on track.
Dewey, this just in from the feed on the opponent. The bus is IN town at this point and scooping up kids like a giant hungry python.
It's as if Mom has psychic powers because she seems to sense this too. She's kicking things into high gear and there's lots of action on that field right now, things are moving in a blur:
Sandwiches seem to have magically appeared and I see players shoving them into lunchboxes. I see others running to the pantry for snacks and some heading to the refrigerator for drinks. It's a miracle they don't trip over each other in this madness.
Players are now running every which way and it seems they are donning shoes. The rookie stands in the middle of the frey, one shoe in hand, the solitary still figure among a blur of arms and legs dashing about. He seems to be in trouble. I can only guess at this point that he can't find his other shoe, Earl.
This could spell defeat for Mommankidz, Dewey, because if he sets foot on that Bus in his barefeet, it's game over for Mommankidz.
And speaking of The Bus, I'm receiving word right now that it has left town and is headed for the Farmhouse. Looks like it's now or never for Mommankidz, Earl.
Player #5 has just spotted The Bus out of the window. She leans her head back and yells "Buuuuuussssssss" at the top of her lungs. Oh my God, now everyone on the team is running. The team mascot begins barking his fool head off. Everyone is grabbing backpacks and lunchboxes. Mom's on her hands and knees peering under the sofa and .... what's this? She HAS FOUND THE SHOE! She stands up, reaches her arm back and throws a Hail Mary across two rooms. THE ROOKIE CATCHES THE SHOE!
Oh my GOD, I think they're gonna make it. Mom races to the door and all the players file past her. Kisses and fond words are exchanged as they walk out the door and down the walk.
The bus pulls up to the house ... the doors open .... and all the players begin to step in! But what about the rookie?
Earl, he's hopping down the walk, still putting his shoe on even as he approaches The Bus. The last of his teammates has vanished from sight. Will he make it and secure victory for this team?
HE DOES! His shoe is on and he is ON The Bus, I repeat, he is ON The Bus! The crowd is on its feet and going wild! This is a HUGE upset for The Bus and an incredible victory for Team Mommankidz.
That's right Earl, they'll be talking about this one for some time. I guess Mom still has a few moves left in her after all ......
************
Image courtesy: blog.educaedu.com
***********
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop and A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras Link-Up
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Monday, that means I'm linking my post "What the....?" with Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, and yesterday's post "Inspiration Sunday" with A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras. Come join the fun!
Image courtesy: aueagles.com
Posted this on my old blog last year. It's my comical view of the goings-on of the first day of school.
What would the commentators say at YOUR house?
*****************
Thank you for joining us live at the farmhouse on this beautiful morning. I'm Earl E. Rizer ....
And I'm Dewey Riley Kaire ....
And we'll be covering the Annual First Day of School event for you all morning.
That's right Earl. This much anticipated event pits two formidable enemies against each other: Mommankidz vs The Bus. We've got a bird's eye view of the Mommankidz team, who should be appearing on the scene any moment now, as well as audio feed that will give us live updates on The Bus as things unfold.
Although Mommankidz has a pretty strong track record, there are those that wonder how they'll fare in this event. My sources tell me that instead of using the summer to train, they've been undisciplined in their sleep habits and have only worked together as a cohesive team on a handful of occassions all summer long.
That's right Earl. In contrast, The Bus is fully prepared. It's been washed, fueled, tuned-up, and had a strong performance in the Bus Rodeo over the summer.
This will be an interesting competition to say the least ....
And here they come now, onto the field. It's just Mom at the moment but she's giving a strong first impression as she appears to be showered and dressed.
She's heading straight to the coffee pot, no surprise there, and then over to the stove. She seems to be doing something .... Dewey, it looks like she's making breakfast.
Well, Earl, that's an impressive start as they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I don't think anyone was expecting that.
Maybe they have a stronger shot at this than we thought. Do you think ....
Hold that thought, Earl, I believe another player is arriving on the scene. Yes, it's #1, in the position of high school freshman. Will he be a help or a hindrance to this team, do you think, Earl?
Hard to say, Dewey, hard to say. He's walking over to Mom .... he gives her a hug!
Wow, great move. But let's see how he handles breakfast. He looks into the pot ....and he smiles! He helps himself to a bowl of the steaming oatmeal as the crowd goes wild. This is a very strong start for Team Mommankidz.
And here come #2 and #3, both in the position of middle schoolers. On their heels is player #5. Anything could happen now, and the crowd seems to be holding its collective breath.
Earl, they've ALL taken bowls of oatmeal and have sat down to eat! Is there no stopping this team?
Yes, things are looking incredibly good for this team, but let's not forget it is early in the game, and not all the players have joined us yet.
Well, but here comes #6, the youngest player on the team. These rookies can be a handful and it takes a strong coach to keep their energies in check. Let's watch what happens ....
Dewey, it looks like he's walking over to the pot .....he looks in..... and he makes a face. Now he's whining! Oh, this is bad news for Mom. They argue for a bit .... and now he is heading to the freezer for frozen waffles. Disaster averted for the moment.
Earl, I have to wonder where player #4 is. She seems to be the only one missing at this point.
Perhaps the alarm clock fairy didn't call on her this morning, Dewey. Let's see if Mom is aware of this. She's watching the other players eat breakfast.... she sips her coffee .....she sneaks a look at the clock and by golly there she goes, up the stairs like a jackrabbit. She's a pretty, er, seasoned member of this team, but she's got speed when she needs it.
And here she comes back down the stairs with a confused and sleepy looking player #4. Mom has a bowl of oatmeal in front of her before you can say "what's for breakfast".
Dewey, I've just gotten word that the Busdriver is in the Bus. I repeat, the Busdriver is IN the Bus. The engines are revved and the wheels are rolling.
This makes things interesting, Earl. Mommankidz has had a pretty smooth start to this competition, but there's a long way to go and anything could happen.
Back at the Farmhouse, the dishes are cleared and they're moving on to teeth and hair. Mom is directing her players left and right and there's lots of movement. Oooh, player #4 seems to have a knot in her hair. Mom rushes to the scene and applies tangle spray and goes to work getting the tangle out. The player winces. That's gotta hurt.
Earl, it looks like there's trouble in the bathroom. The players are fighting over who was at the sink first and whose toothpaste is whose for crying out loud.
Dewey, Mom's no newcomer to multitasking, but let's see how she handles this. It looks like she's got #4 by the hair and is sidestepping her over to where she has line of sight to the bathroom. She's still working on that tangle, and now she is calling out to the players in the bathroom.
Earl, it's times like these that I'm glad we can't actually hear what they're saying out on the field, because it doesn't look pretty, my friend.
Well, whatever it is, it seems to have had some effect. The players in the bathroom are brushing their teeth like nobody's business.
And the last of the tangle seems to have been conquered as well, Earl. Looks like this team is back on track.
Dewey, this just in from the feed on the opponent. The bus is IN town at this point and scooping up kids like a giant hungry python.
It's as if Mom has psychic powers because she seems to sense this too. She's kicking things into high gear and there's lots of action on that field right now, things are moving in a blur:
Sandwiches seem to have magically appeared and I see players shoving them into lunchboxes. I see others running to the pantry for snacks and some heading to the refrigerator for drinks. It's a miracle they don't trip over each other in this madness.
Players are now running every which way and it seems they are donning shoes. The rookie stands in the middle of the frey, one shoe in hand, the solitary still figure among a blur of arms and legs dashing about. He seems to be in trouble. I can only guess at this point that he can't find his other shoe, Earl.
This could spell defeat for Mommankidz, Dewey, because if he sets foot on that Bus in his barefeet, it's game over for Mommankidz.
And speaking of The Bus, I'm receiving word right now that it has left town and is headed for the Farmhouse. Looks like it's now or never for Mommankidz, Earl.
Player #5 has just spotted The Bus out of the window. She leans her head back and yells "Buuuuuussssssss" at the top of her lungs. Oh my God, now everyone on the team is running. The team mascot begins barking his fool head off. Everyone is grabbing backpacks and lunchboxes. Mom's on her hands and knees peering under the sofa and .... what's this? She HAS FOUND THE SHOE! She stands up, reaches her arm back and throws a Hail Mary across two rooms. THE ROOKIE CATCHES THE SHOE!
Oh my GOD, I think they're gonna make it. Mom races to the door and all the players file past her. Kisses and fond words are exchanged as they walk out the door and down the walk.
The bus pulls up to the house ... the doors open .... and all the players begin to step in! But what about the rookie?
Earl, he's hopping down the walk, still putting his shoe on even as he approaches The Bus. The last of his teammates has vanished from sight. Will he make it and secure victory for this team?
HE DOES! His shoe is on and he is ON The Bus, I repeat, he is ON The Bus! The crowd is on its feet and going wild! This is a HUGE upset for The Bus and an incredible victory for Team Mommankidz.
That's right Earl, they'll be talking about this one for some time. I guess Mom still has a few moves left in her after all ......
************
Image courtesy: blog.educaedu.com
***********
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop and A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras Link-Up
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Monday, that means I'm linking my post "What the....?" with Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, and yesterday's post "Inspiration Sunday" with A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras. Come join the fun!
Image courtesy: aueagles.com
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A Tip for Tuesday - School Supplies
It's August now.
School starts back up the end of this month.
I have started nesting. Taking inventory of, and organizing the school supplies that I keep in an old secretary.
When I get the school supply lists, I always make this my first stop. There are always oodles of items left over from previous school years with plenty of life left in 'em.
The secretary is just an old thing we inherited from a friend's Mom who was downsizing, so it didn't cost us a thing.
In the top shelf area, I keep any required reading collected over the years, along with a few children's classics.
One drawer is set aside for pencils, glue, book covers, calculators, etc.
One is for composition books, spiral-bounds, loose-leaf and graph paper.
In the bottom drawer, I stow all the folders, page protectors and dividers.
I have another drawer for clipboards and assorted odds and ends.
Because binders are pretty large, I store them separately in a Rubbermaid bin next to the secretary.
Any piece of storage furniture could be used for this purpose. An old dresser, some shelves and baskets. We keep ours by the front door, but a study or even the dining room would work equally well. If the kids are running low on papers or pencils or what-not during the school year, they know to always check this cabinet first.
Happy organizing!
*********************
Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "BlogHer '12" with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, and my post "Btw? She's Back!" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
Come join the fun!
School starts back up the end of this month.
I have started nesting. Taking inventory of, and organizing the school supplies that I keep in an old secretary.
When I get the school supply lists, I always make this my first stop. There are always oodles of items left over from previous school years with plenty of life left in 'em.
The secretary is just an old thing we inherited from a friend's Mom who was downsizing, so it didn't cost us a thing.
In the top shelf area, I keep any required reading collected over the years, along with a few children's classics.
One drawer is set aside for pencils, glue, book covers, calculators, etc.
One is for composition books, spiral-bounds, loose-leaf and graph paper.
In the bottom drawer, I stow all the folders, page protectors and dividers.
I have another drawer for clipboards and assorted odds and ends.
Because binders are pretty large, I store them separately in a Rubbermaid bin next to the secretary.
Any piece of storage furniture could be used for this purpose. An old dresser, some shelves and baskets. We keep ours by the front door, but a study or even the dining room would work equally well. If the kids are running low on papers or pencils or what-not during the school year, they know to always check this cabinet first.
Happy organizing!
*********************
Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "BlogHer '12" with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, and my post "Btw? She's Back!" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
Come join the fun!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
A Tip for Tuesday - Teaching at the Table
Ours is not a homeschooling family.
I'm not that brave, but my hat is off to all those that are.
That being said, I do try to make sure the little buggers are learning a few things now and then. Even when they're NOT in school. You've all seen the video, right?
Yeah. Not on my watch. Such as....
To that end, I've got maps, and I'm not afraid to use 'em.
We currently have a giant US map on our dinner table, covered in clear plastic, so we can wipe the spagehetti sauce off of Seattle and the milk off of Milwaukee.
Every now and then, I take the US map out and replace it with a world map.
Sometimes we play I Spy games with the maps
I spy a large country bordered by Russia and China....
or quiz each other on capitals. My oldest and my youngest, in particular, are kind of geography nerds and they like challenging each other in this way.
I'm hoping the others pick it up by osmosis or something.
So. Maps. They're what's for dinner.
*********************
Hello? Is this thing on? For some reason, my ratings on the Top Mommy Blog thing have been slipping lately, though my blog views are way up (thanks to all my awesome followers, new and old!). Can you take a sec to vote so I can get back on the first page? I hate not being in the top 25. Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
Also? If you're feeling generous with your clicks, please vote for me in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Moms With Big Families contest. To vote for me, click this pink badge, then scroll down till you see my blog, and click on the thumbs-up button. You can vote every day till the contest ends. Thanks!

***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "Escaped" with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, and "That's My Girl" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday. Come join the fun!
I'm not that brave, but my hat is off to all those that are.
That being said, I do try to make sure the little buggers are learning a few things now and then. Even when they're NOT in school. You've all seen the video, right?
Yeah. Not on my watch. Such as....
To that end, I've got maps, and I'm not afraid to use 'em.
We currently have a giant US map on our dinner table, covered in clear plastic, so we can wipe the spagehetti sauce off of Seattle and the milk off of Milwaukee.
Every now and then, I take the US map out and replace it with a world map.
Sometimes we play I Spy games with the maps
I spy a large country bordered by Russia and China....
or quiz each other on capitals. My oldest and my youngest, in particular, are kind of geography nerds and they like challenging each other in this way.
I'm hoping the others pick it up by osmosis or something.
So. Maps. They're what's for dinner.
*********************
Hello? Is this thing on? For some reason, my ratings on the Top Mommy Blog thing have been slipping lately, though my blog views are way up (thanks to all my awesome followers, new and old!). Can you take a sec to vote so I can get back on the first page? I hate not being in the top 25. Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Thanks!
Also? If you're feeling generous with your clicks, please vote for me in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Moms With Big Families contest. To vote for me, click this pink badge, then scroll down till you see my blog, and click on the thumbs-up button. You can vote every day till the contest ends. Thanks!
***************
In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.
Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up
Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "Escaped" with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, and "That's My Girl" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday. Come join the fun!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
81 Days
Today is the last day of school.
School will not be in session again for 81 days.
81 days.
Eighty one days.
11 1/2 weeks.
2 1/2 months.
81 days.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
I love my children. I love my children. I love my children.


**************
Thanks for stopping by.
If you like my blog, I hope you'll be able to take a minute to add yourself as a follower.
Come back soon! I'm here every day, rain or shine...
~Anne
**************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a couple votes:
Circle of Moms: click the pink badge, scroll down to my blog (Life on the Funny Farm), and click the thumbs-up button to vote. You can vote every day till June 20th!

Top Mommy Blogs: You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Images courtesy: lioncountrylodging.blogspot.com and babble.com
School will not be in session again for 81 days.
81 days.
Eighty one days.
11 1/2 weeks.
2 1/2 months.
81 days.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
I love my children. I love my children. I love my children.


**************
Thanks for stopping by.
If you like my blog, I hope you'll be able to take a minute to add yourself as a follower.
Come back soon! I'm here every day, rain or shine...
~Anne
**************
Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a couple votes:
Circle of Moms: click the pink badge, scroll down to my blog (Life on the Funny Farm), and click the thumbs-up button to vote. You can vote every day till June 20th!
Top Mommy Blogs: You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.
Images courtesy: lioncountrylodging.blogspot.com and babble.com
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