Burrrrrrrrr!

Slide Rock, Sedona

My friend just went and I thought ..... "Isn't the water cold?" She was right! Yes, it was cold but lots of fun!

I can't believe how dangerous it is and how many people fall right on their heads! One lady flipped backwards, smacked her head real hard and there went her flip video camera in the water and washed away.

Kayla got right in and started sliding right away and Shae soon followed. Tom was on patrol at the end of the slippery rocks as I was near the top. What a blast we had!

We even managed to find a spot for a nice little family photo on timer.

What's your motivation?

Here I am with my "chords!"

Don't worry! Everything will work out! This is what I recently told a good friend of mine.

My friend is totally worried about her child not ever getting into college. Well, not to worry as I was a total non college recipient. The counselors never even pulled me into their office to ask me about it or guide me. They did not see me as potential.

As a parent who schools their child at home .... there are many ways to get your child into college. You can self transcript, take the GED or diploma equivalency, try the ACT test, do a private online accredited school or even a public virtual school. There are many options and I am not one to judge any parent for what they choose to do and how they educate their child. Not everything works for all families and I don't live in their circumstances to make that decision either.

Here is how I got into college being a total failure throughout my public high school years. Keep in mind...... that I went all the way through public high school, graduated and got my diploma. YAHOO! Diploma in hand ... now what?

First, let's back up a bit. I was the one in school who really "wasn't there." If you know what I mean. I showed up everyday and had my group of friends, but I don't recall EVER paying any attention in any class accept for art, sewing and jewelry class. I don't even remember studying for any test either. Maybe that's why I got D's and F's. When something was due my dad would sit down and practically write my papers for me. ha,ha,ha,ha! Thanks dad! So, I graduated and was out of HS for about a year and working at a skateboard shop and did Rogaine (yes, Rogaine) surveys over the phone. I lived right down the street from Mesa Community College and decided one day to go there and see what it was all about.

A little family history ... neither of my parents nor my two older brothers went to college. And there was little to no talk in the house about what we wanted to do when we grew up and that we should go to college. If there was I probably wasn't listening and to busy riding my skateboard and driving around in my low rider car club. Yes, I did that too! I was probably the perfect case of ADD/ ADHD back then but it wasn't a big thing at that time like it is now.

So, I went and took the "test". I couldn't even test into a community college. How PATHETIC!! Well, I took the test but had to start at taking high school level courses (like way low high school level and perhaps jr. high level). Once again, I got my HS diploma. It was well earned and totally prepared me for my future! NOT!!!

I worked my way up through the community college and got my AA and AGS degrees and when I picked up the cap and gown I noticed some people had these chords around their neck and I asked about them. They told me I had to have a 3.4 GPA or something like that to get one and I asked what mine was and it was like 3.3 GPA. I was so pissed!!! I wanted those soooooo bad!

But I graduated and earned that diploma and now I have a new motivation and that was to go to Arizona State University and get "those honor chords!" I did just that! Remember, I never caught up throughout elementary, jr. high and high school years, but I went to college. I drove to the college myself and even with failing grades all through school I made it and to the university and graduated Cum Laude and was a Harry Truman scholarship recipient. But that was when I was ready!

So, I say "Don't worry and freak out so much! Everything will work out!"

ART CLASS PREP

Next month is coming up and I thought it would be fun to do a cool skull. The lesson will be one of a different style for these kids. They will learn to use carbon paper to outline the main shape of the skull. Then they will create their designs BUT the side designs must only be half of an item. This will create an illusion of the skull being rounded not flat and will also do a little shading.

Get your tickets!!!

Last night, Kayla gave us all a ticket to the "big show."

It was at 6:10pm SHARP!

Kayla was waiting on top of her desk ready to take our tickets when we entered her bedroom.

Kayla introduced herself and Shae on the mic and they both played their new songs that they are learning in their piano class. We are so lucky to have my great friend who happens to also be an amazing pianist be their teacher.

Tennis anyone?

These lucky ducks have started tennis class at the racquet club. They are enjoying their class and the kids in the class. We have 9 kids in our class and the kids are such good kids. It seems that we are booking up with activities and having fun. A friend of mine said to me the other day .... "Are you worried that your kids will be total nerds because you homeschool." I say ... "Ahhhhhh, NO!" She says .... " what about the socializing?" ... I love this question! I had to tell her that my kids calendar is so full with play dates and activities that I have to cancel things and that I am thinking about starting a number system like at the deli. tee,hee,hee! Socialization in our lives as homeschoolers is pretty important. But I don't have to think about it anymore as we are very confident in what we do and have many great friendships. In the beginning I wondered how I would intertwine all that interaction but it has all fallen in place just fine.

Quote

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you learn to let go. Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they are right. You believe lies so that you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so that better things can fall together."

3 GOALS!!!!

Shae is number 3 going for the goal

Yeah Shae!!! She scored 3 goals herself in today's game! What a great game it was. All our girls play hard. Go Bumble Bees!!!!!

ART CLASS

my tree samples

The school year has started and so has the art class that I teach to 8 homeschooled kids. This class is a lot of fun! They have a lesson and create their assignment along with me and that takes anywhere from 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Then it is snow cone time and they all go out back and play for about another hour.

artwork from a 10 year old

Obviously, our lesson yesterday was on trees. Usually, a child or any person has a certain tree that they like to draw and that becomes the main tree they draw whenever they create a picture with trees. My favorite tree to draw is a palm tree and I am not sure why but we didn't do one of those in this lesson.

My students range from ages 7 - 10 and they all do a great job with their creations!

artwork from a 9 year old

artwork from a 7 year old

We used marker,watercolor,acrylic and chalk.

Can I draw a guitar?

Shae loves to draw and requested to draw and paint a guitar to enter into the fair. So, I set her up and with little guidance from me...she began her creation. It took her about 2 1/2 hours over 2 days and it came out great!

I put the guitar stand on the table in front of her to see details.

She used pencil, acrylic paint and watercolor for the background.

R.I.P. Dinky

Yes, it is true. Dinky has passed away. Our beloved goldfish that joined our family in 2001 (yes you read it right) was 9 years old and moved from Mesa to Prescott with us has finally died. He was a quiet fish and ate well. He loved a dirty tank and never wanted any new decorations for his bowl. He was a good fish! Good bye Dinky!

ZOO REPORT COMPLETED!

Congrats Kayla! She finally finished her zoo report and completed it with the photos she took. She typed it herself and displayed all her pictures scrapbook style. She will display this at the county fair under the category written report.

I'm a PROUD grandma!

If you read the post about our "Mother of the Year" recently, then you would know why I am so proud to claim myself a "proud grandma." The girls noticed mama bird fly away yesterday and they went over to the next to see the egg and ....... there was no egg ... instead ..... a baby bird! YAHOO! My rescue of the egg was well worth it! I can't believe that it survived and is now a darling baby dove.

The Bumble Bees are buzz'n

We had a great first game of the season! The kids all had a blast and played hard! It was actually kind of a sad game as our team blew away the other team. Shae was so excited that they won and she even scored a goal! Even though the rest of the season may not go this way ..... at least their opening game was a great success.

Shae getting sandwiched

Shae's super supporter!

Geography Bowl

1) What is the world's largest river?

2) What is the world's saltiest body of water?

3) What country has the most land area?

4) What is the world's largest creature without a backbone?

Do you know these?

These are just a few out of 50 questions Kayla had to know for today's geography class. This is our first year participating in the Geography Bowl class. This particular class meets monthly for about 1 1/2 hours and includes a lesson along with the bee (competition part). Of course, it is girls against the boys! At first, Kayla wasn't too excited to go, but in the end she was jumping for joy as her friends were there and they had a great competition. The boys won today, but I bet the girls will come back strong next month.

We are very lucky to have one of our veteran homeschool moms teach this class. Her kids have gone on the win the state and national geography bees and one is even attending Harvard! Just amazing!
The turn out today was great with over 40 kids. I am sure they all won't return next month, but Kayla is sure to return and is ready to study the next 50 questions "State the facts". They are using the Abeka Geography Bowl data, trivia and important concepts book.

mama bird of the year update

Our sweet dove that has been diligently with her eggs all day and night for the past several weeks had a mother's worst night mare experience last night. We had a pretty bad rain storm last night. I woke up about 4:30 to lightening and heavy rain. It might of even hailed for a while.

This morning about 6am I went out to check on her and she was sitting on her nest but flew away real fast as I got near her. Note: She never flies away when we are even 8 inches from her. I noticed her nest was empty as she watched me from a distance while perched on our neighbors roof top. I looked down and there was one egg balancing on a skinny branch of dead pine needles below her nest. I knew she couldn't pick it back up herself and also knew that us humans should never touch an egg. But, I took that chance and picked it up and placed it back into the nest. While having it in my hand I noticed 2 tiny cracks with a dark spot almost as if rain water got inside it. I looked everywhere for the other egg and could not find any trace of it. All I can think of was that it fell hard on the rocks below and was washed away in the heavy down pour. I watched from the window inside the house to see if the mama bird would fly back over to the nest and she didn't. She fly away somewhere in the distance. A few hours later Kayla went out and she was there! The mama dove is back and sitting on the egg that she knew was in a dangerous situation just hours before. I could only imagine her night as she tried to protect those eggs. I am sure she couldn't handle the heavy pounding of the rain and the eggs were knocked out of the nest. I am so proud of her! I now wonder if the egg will really survive its traumatic experience of last night. Only time will tell but what a wonderful mama bird she it!

Move over Krispy Cream and Dunkin Donuts!

I found this recipe on The Pioneer Woman and it proves to be the best donut recipe ever! I don't know about you but I have made donuts before and they are okay and they are greasy and they are just donuts. But these!!! OMG!! Move over Krispy Cream and Dunkin Donuts!

Thank goodness for reading over the recipe while playing Connect Four with Kayla and Shae as I noticed the dough needed to be refrigerated the night before. Kayla got on her apron and went right to work with me in the kitchen. She has become my side kick in the kitchen and LOVES cooking!

The following morning I got up early and rolled out the dough and cut out the donuts. I didn't have a circle donut cutter so a heart shaped cookie cutter did the trick just fine. I used a 3" with a 1 1/2" middle cutter. They say here under a towel for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours until airy / fluffy.

Then with the oil no hotter than 375 degrees they were fried about 45 seconds on each side.
My mouth is drooling as I type! After they cooled on the rack they were dunked by Kayla the master donut glazer.
I must say that we all ate about 10 of these donuts and they are a tasty mix between Krispy Creme and Dunkin Donuts.
Just perfect!

Here is the recipe link.

No Ordinary Pencil

Shae has a creative mind and thinks of many things and has many questions. To start of with ... she knows that pencils are wood for the most part and she set out to make her own.

Here's the story as it unfolds....

One evening, I was sitting on the couch and Shae said ...

Shae: "Mom, look, I made my own pencil"

Mom: "really?"

Shae: "yes, see!" with a huge smile she shows me a stick

Mom: "wow!" I am noticing that this is no ordinary stick

Shae: "Yep, and I want to use it tomorrow for my schoolwork but it doesn't write"

So, I explained to her how there isn't lead in that for it to be able to write. But wow! I was impressed as she sharpened it and had an eraser on it as well.

Now, fast forward to our following morning while doing schoolwork. Shae has a HUGE smile on her face and says...

SHAE: "Look mom! My new stick pencil works!" and she writes on a piece of paper and ... yes, it works indeed!

I JUST ABOUT DIED!! SHE WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE HER PENCIL WORK!

**She is so cute!! She broke a piece of lead off another pencil and rubbed it on the end of her stick pencil tip and continued using it with her schoolwork.

Hi Foster mom!

This is for Nala and Tuesday's foster mom at the Minpin Haven Rescue.

Nala and Tuesday have become pretty good dogs and are very good with the girls. They spend most of their day with Tom in his office and love to leisurely lay in their kennel and sit outside in the sun.