Year 2, Day 234: Back at It

The problem with being behind 9 days on blogging is that I don't remember what we did!  So, these will be short and sweet and I'll go off the pictures I did take.  Remember, I didn't take as many pictures because I didn't want to take the time to go through them.  Plus, I know I went headlong into starting school.  Well, school prep and setting the schedule and tweaking it.  Usually I have everything planned out perfectly before we start.  But, Grandpa and Shauna wanted to start Bible class this week, and I know my kids are itching to have some structure.  I have switched up a good portion of our schedule and even some of our curriculum and approach to things from what I learned throughout last year at co op, or on blogs, but especially through podcasts, and learning about Classical Conversations, which sparked a long, entralling rabbit trail of educating myself on the Classical method of education.  We are still mixing and matching methods, but I have a much firmer grasp and where and how I want to take the middles in their educational journeys.  I'm sure I'll have it perfected for Abishai, or, he'll be extremely different and I'll have to scratch everything and try something new.  And that's why I hold on to several different types of curriculum.  Plus, it's fun to have it on hand for others to look through and borrow.

Anyway, yes, we implemented the rough outline of our new routine.  It's not a schedule.  A schedule is tied strictly to the clock in my opinion, and while I did put down times for everything, there's only a handful that are usually right on the money, like wake up time, naptime, dinner, and bedtime.  Mostly, I wanted the kids to start getting up and going a little faster, and myself as well.  With the summer lazy's, we tend to waste a lot of our morning time.  And by waste, I mean watching YouTube videos or playing on our phones or goofing off in general.  Actually wrestling with each other, or playing in the pool, etc are not "waste."  I digress.  And I'm super happy that we've eased into school because we've had to do a lot of tweaking already.  I was hoping to do a morning time that included Abishai, but I'm going to have to work with him on how to play quietly first.  So, for now, I switched our easy read aloud back to the afternoon.  I also need to be on point to get this potty training thing going.  But that's another story.  I am also glad we are starting to count our days, although we are not doing every subject, because then we aren't rushing to get them done at the end of the year.  I still feel like we are sort of on summer break, too, because it's not everything everyday.  I guess I need the slow start as well. 

Point is, it's good to do something new and different.  Each season of life requires new and different.  Benaiah is back to school and oh man is his workload heavy! I knew it would be and that he'd have to give up some of the extra volunteer time at church.  He just has to remember not to take out his frustration on lack of time and/or sleep on the rest of us.  "Poor planning on your part doesn't cnstitute an emergency on my part."  And he is learning it, as am I.  And Jared is, too.  They are working on the final edits and print proofs for a new book, so that has taken some time.  And now Jared has to also prepare lectures for the Bible class for the upperclassmen at Benaiah's school twice a week.  Fun!  But, we are all using our gifts, honing our skills, and that's important.

I had pancakes today, but I am tired of all the sugary breakfasts, so I told them they could only have 1 kind of sweet on them, either sprinkles OR syrup, not both.  In fact, I made a list of appropriate breakfasts and if we make or buy anything sweet, then it's a treat for after lunch of dinner, even if it's a "breakfast" pastry.  This is a set of princess sprinkles, so the yellow ones are crowns (Sleeping Beauty).

These are Cinderella's glass slippers.

Snow White's poisoned apples.

Pearls? Snow for Elsa?  I don't know.

Running everywhere all the time, crazy!

Unless he's sleepy and watching his TV shows.

2nd official day of school included Bible Class.  All 4 are doing it altogether this year.

Chatting with the girls after class is done.  "Nore! Truck!"

Newest obsession is "Daddy, horsey!" and then Abishai will go for Jared's ears and Jared says, "Ew, yucky!" and shakes his head.

Abishai has to be roughed up (loved up) before bed or he won't settle.  Thankfully, if it's just me putting him to bed, it's not as rough or long as when Daddy does it (which is most nights).

If anyone knows about Rubix cubes, it's Benaiah and his friends.  Well, Willie was so impressed with Benaiah's skills and general demeanor, that he insisted that Donna order a name brand pro cube (we are talking major bucks here) for Benaiah as a reward.  So totally unexpected.  I wish I had my video camera going because Benaiah was jumping up and down and falling down and rolling around on the ground in disbelief and awe like a little kid going to Disney World.   What a tremendous gift of generosity and encouragement for someone who has gone through a lot in the last few years.  What a blessing!

If we all could brighten each others' days with little, medium, or big gestures like this instead of fighting over a whether or not to tear down a Civil War statue, we would be shining the light and hope of Christ to a dark world.  Wow.

Morning snuggle time.  And yes, we know we need new sheets that will actually stay on the bed.

Awww, puppy snuggles.

Pretty clouds!

Year 2, Day 235: Flips and Bowling!

Well, we didn't combine the flipping and the bowling, but we did seem to be out a lot today.  Gymanstics in the morning, home for lunch and school, and Bible Bowl in the evening.

She's got a lot to learn, but at least Keturah loves gymnastics and it's the one thing she is willing to practice hard at!  Super nice coach, too!

Oh how I hated anything where I had to flip upside down.  That's why I only took a couple of classes.  Sure you do some spins in ballet, but you pretty much remain upright the whole time.  And spins (sorry, I forget the real ballet lingo) aren't for a long time anyway.  Keturah reminds me of my sister Kristina, who, was nearly an Olympic level gymnast.  No joke, she was either Level 9 or 10 when she quit in high school and trained 3-4 hrs a day 6 days a week! She had/has back problems and numerous sprained ankles.  She lived and breathed it for 10 years.  Not I.  Ballet and Horsemanship.  So, Keturah might have glasses like me, but she likes short hair and has my sister Stefanie's personality, but loves gymnastics like Kristina.  Interesting combination!  No wonder she drives me nuts sometimes!

Practicing on the only available wall at home.  I tend to fill every wall with a bookcase or other furniture.  No joke!  I see a spot and think, "Hey, I missed one!  Now what container for my stuff can I put there?"  Anyway, She's trying to walk up the wall to practice her handstands.

Nice arch!

Push me super big high, Mom!

Mr. Kenny playing with Abishai during Bible Bowl practice.  Kenny is super friendly, but because he had a brain tumor when he was 5 and again at 15, he has some trouble speaking and seeing.  It's been a couple of months since we have seen Kenny, and although Abishai didn't mind him then, he is afraid of him now.  I know it's a toddler phase and he did to better the next week (when I'm typing this), but I feel bad for Kenny, who would never want to be seen as scary.  It's something to work on for sure.

Man child has permission to occasionally practice the drums at church.  He's getting quite good and his talent is becoming to be noticed.  They need him on tech team but his goal is to play for youth group at the very least, but I think he could "climb up the ladder" and play for a regular church during and after college once he gains some more practice with a live band and audience.  Meanwhile, he told us tonight that he is a) going to play the PIANO and sing (you're welcome for the lessons I taught you, kid) at his school's chapel next week and b) The choir teacher at school game him one of the major/leading roles of the Christmas musical they are doing.  I think I said this before, but it's a slightly revised version of a musical the Indian Creek Children's Choir did when Benaiah was in Kindergarten or First grade.  He is super stoked to have a major role again.  He has consistently had solos or a part or a major role in all the plays and musicals he has been in.  He loves the stage!  In that way, he's like his Grandfather.  Ok, well, I don't know if Gary loves the stage, but he's very comfortable on stage.  Gary certainly doesn't particular like the limelight and pedestal that comes from being up there all the time.  But anyway, Benaiah is making a name for himself by working hard, working WITH his teachers, not against them, and just staying busy.  He might be part of the highly respected (and expensive) FC Singers and he probably won't try out for America's Got Talent, but, he's happy and healthy in his corner of the world.  And we are all grateful for that.

Time to go down Memory Lane:
(I can't help it! These are way too good to pass up! Thanks Facebook for saving them for me!  I'm glad I took all that time to load them up, too!)

Drew Tapp, who is now a Sr. in high school, as Gabriel.  Benaiah says he's playing the part of Michael, which might be the adult angel in the other pictures from 8 years ago I saw.  Hm,...

I'm sure the kids at SCS will do fine with this musical, but Mrs. Christy, our children's choir director, has mad skills when it comes to hand motions!

Justin makes that same goofy face! I think Uncle Aaron has a goofy facial expression he has used for years and years, too.  I think it runs in families.

Speaking of Bible Bowl, here's my Beginner Bowler back in 2nd grade.

The caption on Facebook read something like Justin wanted his transformers to see Baby Jesus.

I think this was one of the only times Gary and Leah took the kids to see Santa at the mall. Probably because I started taking them to the Children's Museum instead where we didn't have to pay for it.

I took one look at this picture and said, that's Abishia's evil eye!  Aha! Justin and Abishai could be twins!

And the whole "setting up of guys/cars" thing.  Yup, J and A did/do the same thing!

See, Justin did have very light colored hair!

And here's the man child at age 15 at school in English class.

Man child again with his friend Emma, the one who got him into Rubix cubes.

And here's man child 8 years ago, in his Angel Alert t-shirt.  I can't believe he's about to do the same play again!  And yes, the kid had a mohawk.  And yes, the "halo" was supposed to be there.  And darn it, I think I finally threw that halo away because I was like "why on earth do we have this?" when we got out Christmas decor last year.  Grrrr.....Oh, and the shirt had angel wings printed on the back.  Clever!  Sweetness!

Year 2, Day 233: Laundry, Phone Calls, and a Solar Eclipse!

It was a pretty exciting day! Abishai came in our room as always wanting to snuggle while Jared got dressed for work.  He also took Benaiah to school.  Since we had done a great job last night of unpacking, there was only a bag of games to unpack and then laundry to do.  I washed and dried probably 4 regular size loads, which equals 2 loads for my huge washer.  I made the mistake of putting it out at 7:30 am (yes, 7:30!) and the line was still in the shade, so the first half of the load took a while longer to dry than normal.  But once the sun hit, the laundry dried in no time.  I think I was pulling the last bit off right before the peak of the solar eclipse at 2:25 pm.  And we got it all put away, too. Score!

The Solar Eclipse!  Jared was super excited about it.  Leah drove down to Kentucky with a friend who had helped her get up to Michigan to see her Dad before he passed, to see the 100% totality. We had about 91 % totality in Indianapolis.  In 7 years, there will be another one that will pass directly over Indianapolis!  The signifcance of this eclipse was that it reached from Oregon to South Carolina, so coast to coast of the United States.  Eclipses happen often, like a couple per year, but only some usually get to see them.  I saw one when I was 10 or 11 while we were at my piano teacher's house.  I remember it going dark while one of my sisters were having their lesson or something.  Anyway, I had downloaded some apps that told me exactly when the eclipse would start, reach its peak, and end.  And one of the apps had links to a NASA sponsored website that explained the pinhole method as well as the teleschope/binoculars method.  Basically, you are trying to see the reflection of the event because you cannot look at the event with the naked eye unless it's at 100% totality.  And no, you can't look through a camera lens or a phone camera's lens, even if you have it on selfie mode while your back is turned to the sun and just look at the screen.  You will ruin your eyes and the camera lenses.  So, I tried putting our telescope together in a way with our standup wipeboard but it didn't work.  Jared had tried the pinhole method at work, and it did work, so when he stopped in so we could share the event together with the middle kids (Abishai was napping), he showed me how to do it.  The pictures can tell more of that story.

Meanwhile, since one of Benaiah's teachers worked or works for a NASA related company, the teacher made sure that they had real NASA approved eclipse glasses.  The school took a break from their normal classes and let the kids go outside and view the eclipse for about 20 minutes using the glasses or the pinhole method.  Benaiah even had to right a two page report on it! I love SCS for this kind of reasons.  They recognize opportunities and take them, just like homeschoolers do.  Speaking of the glasses, there were a lot of fake ones floating around.  Basically, if you put them on and can still see things, they are fake.  One local teacher who had ordered 100's of pairs of glasses, found out they were fake, drove down to the company whose logo was on the glasses, and verified that they were indeed fake.  Someone had put the company's logo and "NASA approved" on them.  It wasn't the company's fault, but they gave the teacher the same amount of glasses so his students for free so the students could take in this event.  I think that was incredibly gracious of them.

Anyway, Justin and Keturah were not that impressed, especially since I made them watch live footage throughout the whole event.  They weren't allowed to have their regular TV time until afterwords.  I didn't make them do any activities, but we have studied and/or talked about the solar system numerous times, so I think they do understand the concepts.  I did mention that there will be another one in 7 years and that we can predict it because it's all about mathematics.  I also told them how sometimes the moon looks larger during an eclipse because the path of the moon is not a perfect circle.  I mentioned Galileo and how he used math to figure some of this out.  We'll go over it again in a couple of years.  I just wasn't ready to throw "school" at them although I'm sure the worksheets looked great.

Then, I was supposed to call Medicaid today, but my brother called and we talked for 45 minutes about what is going on in his life.  Then I called one of my sisters to update her and ended up on the phone for another 45 minutes.  I'll just say that life can be really complicated and messy.  But I am grateful I am able to drop what I'm doing and just listen to my siblings talk about what's going on.  I'm glad they reach out to me and when they ask for advice, I can give it.  I can only do that, because great, Godly advice has been poured into me, whether I ask for it or not, lol.  I've observed how Gary counsels others in many different situations and try to copy some of the things he does.  I am estranged from one my sisters, but my other sister keeps tabs on her, so at least I know that one sister is doing ok.  It's hard to be so far apart from all of them.  My brother only lives 40 minutes away, but it seems like it's half a country away.  The business phone calls will always wait.

Dinner. Homework for Benaiah.  Playtime for Jared and Abishai, especially since Abishai cried heavily after seeing Daddy drive away in his truck this morning.  Keturah and Justin puttered around, did their chores, read their books, put away laundry.  Tomorrow will be more of the same, with a little run to the pharmacy and grocery store sprinkled in.  Then gymnastics and Bible Bowl on Wednesday, haircuts (finally! I love the boys' longer hair, but I don't want them to be called girls either) on Thursday, and possibly an apple picking field trip on Friday.  I think I'm going to count today as a school day, and tomorrow as well because the kids will start up their Bible class with Grandpa again.  Everly and Nora already started school, unofficially, because their Classical Conversations community started last week while we were on vacation.  I think I'll slowly add a subject every other day or two to get us ramped up to full tilt after Labor Day.  I still have a couple of kinks to work out of the schedule.

Timbit oatmeal! Justin crumbled up two Timbits into his oatmeal plus raisins and cinnamon.  This boy loves his oatmeal!

This boy definitely missed his train and car and truck collection.  I think he got out every bucket of trains/cars/trucks today.  He put these three trucks together and managed to get them from the sunroom, up the step, over the doorway, and into the kitchen.

My pinhole telescope plan that didn't quite work out.  But I tried!

I thought I was seeing the sun, but I'm not sure it was.

This was a live feed from Oregon, where the totality happened 1 1/2 hrs before our peak happened.

Trying out Daddy's pinhole method.

Tada! The moon covered about 40% of the sun at this point.  No, you can't see the bumps on the moon or the beauty of the sky, but you can watch how the moon passes by the sun.

Someone was using their phone to livestream the eclipse in our area.  I hope he didn't ruin his phone, but I'm glad we were able to get some good live shots out of it.  You could see a reflection of the eclipse where the sun looked pink.

I tried messing around with my camera, taking it off auto as much as I knew how, so I could capture the darkness.  It did get darker, and felt like it was going to rain, but the clouds weren't rain clouds yet.  We knew it wasn't going to be super dark here, but we did notice a difference.

Jared looked over and saw that there were eclipse reflections on the tire swing!  Cool!

The laundry line looks a little darker than it should be at this time of day.

I messed with my camera settings to try to show how dark our naked eyes saw.  I think this picture is pretty accurate.

91% totality!

The moon is now starting to slide away from the sun.

Yes, I grabbed a shot of these pretty clouds in front of the eclipse.  We did have some clouds that made it difficult at times to get pictures of our pinhole reflections.  And it did eventually rain, too.

Yup, this was at 2:30 pm in the afternoon.  Looks more like 7 pm!

Again, on the way out.

Lots of eclipse reflections!

Colonel Mustard!  Abishai asks for mustard for his pizza because he has seen Daddy do it often enough.  And now Abishai has a mustard mustache, lol.

I think all these cars went with us on vacation, but he had to line them up perfectly anyway.  He had watched some monster truck videos earlier today, and so he pretended to be a monster truck and stepped on his cars.  We stopped him right away.  He also orally labeled them "Mommy's car, Daddy's truck, Ice Cream's car, Grandma's car, etc."

Normal settings on the camera for the pretty sunset tonight.

I think this lonely pepper grew a bit more while on vacation.  I'm glad I haven't picked it yet.  Although, I'm sure it's about time.  I got a lavender plant when we went to the lavender farm, and I have to check that frequently, so I'm checking all my plants on the deck frequently as well.

These pretty flowers are still in bloom.  Yeah!

These were the exact times this app gave me for the eclipse for our location.  Everybody across the nation had different times just like when the sun rises.  But this time, the eclipse started out west and went east, where as the sun goes east to west.  Fascinating!  I did want to be an astronaut at one point, so I do enjoy these things.  I'm glad Jared does, too, and we can all share in the experience.