It's Raining, it's not pouring

It feels completely fall-like today. Which is good. Fall is my favourite season. Oh, look, I spelled that like I'm British or something. Everyone here is annoyed because they really didn't have a summer. I guess there were only a few hot days this year. But, having myself just moved from Virginia where it was disgustingly hot and humid, I am as happy as can be!

Next door, the neighbor's cat is asleep on their roof. In the rain. Which seems pretty strange to me. At least it is only drizzling.

Well, we haven't finished our lessons today, so back to school I must go.

Overcoming lameness (and no, I don't mean I have a limp)

So I've been a total slacker on this whole blog thing. Which needs to end, eh? So I'm revamping what I'll write about, hope I can continue to sneak onto my daughter's laptop (a stinkin' middleschooler has a laptop and I don't?? Yeah, grandma loves her more...) and I don't know, see if I can collect a thought or two each day.

Today's thought: School starts tomorrow. For most moms, that's probably cause for celebration - but when you're a homeschooler, it means my work begins. I am sooo not ready. Too bad for me, huh? 7th grade.... wow. They grow up so fast. Since we just moved back across the country (Virginia to Idaho.... again) two weeks ago, I'm not really organized for school yet. And don't have the space here to really be. But I can work with it. We were asked to re-join the school board! Nice to be loved. ;-)

Don't Wanna Homeschool No More

Seriously. Can I be done? I want to get a job and put Kiwi in a full-time school.

So far, 12 is not my favorite age-of-my-child. She swings back and forth between being my sweet little girl to being.... well.... some snarly, nasty, angry little thing that is so not fun to be around.

I thought this year would be fun. Yeah. Call me crazy. Or, naive. I thought we'd go see all these amazing historical places and museums and just enjoy our time together...uh, yeah. Basically it's more just whining about how awful it is to live here and how much she misses her friends and she wants to go back home. Now. Today. With or without me and her dad. As if she'd last one day; but she thinks she's all big and grown up. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that airfare is completely out of my reach, I'd send her off, if only to teach her a lesson. Or, she really would be happy and I wouldn't have to deal with her.... either way, it'd be win-win.

Okay, I probably wouldn't. That would be mean. Right? Bad mommy-ish? Ah, but for some peace and quiet!! The real problem, bottom line, is that I am an introvert and Kiwi is an extrovert. She craves being around people; I want to be left alone. For awhile. Being that she is stressed from the move, lonely without her friends, and suffering from the mood swings of tween-ager-angst, she is more clingy than ever before, and what I need, given those same circumstances (okay, yeah, my mood swings are more of the pre-menopausal sort, but still) I just would really, really like to have some time alone, for-the-love-of-all-that-which-does-not-suck!! This is how bad it is - when I go to the bathroom - which, you know, really ought to earn ya some alone time - she follows me into my room and flops down on my bed so she can talk to me. Cripes. The only reason I'm on here now without interruption is because she is 10 feet away from me on the laptop. sigh

Homeschooling. What was I thinking??!

School is in session!

So, Kiwi and I started school today. We had what you might call a "soft start", lol! See, I haven't had any money to order her curriculum, so we just started with what we had... we did our devotions, we did some reading (thank goodness for the library!) we went to the apartment gym to exercise - this will be a daily part of school - I gave Kiwi another lesson in 'laundry', because part of school this year is definately going to be "life lessons"! Then, because we are going to journal every day, we made journals!

The idea is to take plain old composition books and make them pretty!




You just need two pieces of scrapbooking paper ~

Here Kiwi goes for a Christmas theme ~

Cut it, glue it, fold it to size....

Fold and glue the corners, then the sides...

and there ya go! Easy peesy....

Kiwi did this one in autumn hues....

Her Christmas one ~

I just chose patterns and colors that made me happy! Here they are, quick and easy... you can embellish with ribbons, buttons, stickers, whatever.... we may just leave 'em as is.

So, it's September

Huh. Who knew. September already. Summer is over ~ it's time to start school.


I am so not ready. Spending most of the summer getting ready to move, then moving, then trying to get moved in; well, it takes it out of ya. And, like my little Kiwi observed, after all that it didn't really seem like a summer vacation. She got that right!


But, life doesn't care how you feel about it. It just moves on like a river, whether fast or slow, and you have to go with it. Fighting the current only makes you tired.


So, we'll have a little Sunday, and a Labor Day, then start our little homeschool venture on Tuesday. Of course, with the car breaking down and other nice little surprises, we haven't had the money to purchase one single textbook. But, we have a library, we have the internet, we have wonderful points of historic interest to visit, we have good brains and we know how to use them. Life, and school, will carry on. And it will all be fine.



If all else fails, we have the cat for entertainment.

The way it stands......

...is that my garage is horrid, and I gotta get to it. Or, through it. Past it?? Beyond it?? Anyhooo..... yeah. I was supposed to start today, but what with taking the cat to the vet, and going to the bank (not just for regular banking, but to get my signature notarized so I can get a new title for my husband's motorcycle which we want to sell but of course he has no recollection of where he put that thing) then of course, the DMV... which, I have to say, is one of those things I appreciate about Idaho. It took me about 10 minutes... maybe 15. When I lived in California, this would've been at least an hour+ job. Another thing I appreciate, and will miss, is our trash service. I mean, we have 1 can, but if we have more stuff, you can put it out there, in a bag, a box, whatever....even an old piece of furniture if it's small, and they'll take it. Totally cool about it. My DH told me today that in Virginia, if you have anything that doesn't fit in your trashcan, even a small bag, they'll charge you $5.oo extra to take it. Per bag. Geez. I'm thinking I am gonna be sorry for all the times I've groaned about living in Spudville.

The good news is that the cat doesn't have the disease the rescue center's vet told us he had! Which is great. I kind of wondered about it, since she just arbitrarily told us that was his problem, without any kind of test. I didn't worry about it, because we don't have any other cats he could have spread it to, and he's an indoor cat, but still, it's good to know he's a totally healthy little guy. Very little! He only weighs 9 lbs. Runt of the litter, I guess! Boy, was he unhappy about the trip. Didn't like the vet's office at all!

The dog - she's doing great. Still limping, but leg getting stronger every day.

Tomorrow is the last day of school, even though last Thursday was actually the last day of school. Confused much?? Okay, last week was final tests and all, and tomorrow is just desk-cleaning and assembly and then a picnic. So, a fun day!

This week is going to be a bit hectic - too much to do, too little time. D-day for the move is coming up fast!

Weird advice and too much stress

So, on the "moving front", we are scheduled to pull out of Idaho in 4 weeks, heading off to Virginia. Wow, seemed like it was *forever and ever* away, and now I am suddenly having panic attacks because I "ONLY" have 4 weeks left, and so much to do! I've been trying to avoid going into the garage, because that's what I need to tackle next... and it seems like one more insurmountable mountain. ~full body shiver~ We are seriously considering paying someone to pack the house up... mostly, because I just "don't wanna"! Well, and it will take them, like, one day, as opposed to me starting now and hoping I get it done on time! It's enough that I have to load up all the crap - I mean lovely stuff - onto the moving truck.....

We've had lots of people looking at the house (good, but what a pain!) and we almost had an offer - it was all signed and in their realtor's hand, but then the buyers got scared and changed their mind... and, really, "almost had an offer" is as good as not getting one at all, so, poop. The nice thing is all the realtors who've been thru say our home shows really well, so at least they aren't saying stuff like "seriously, that house'll never sell" so, there may be hope, at least. I am already sick of keeping it spotlessly clean. Altho, I kind of enjoy spotlessly clean.... hmmm.... who knew??!

Now, here's the Weird Advice... our realtors (who are good people; I've known them several years, so I don't think they're being flaky or dishonest here) they are telling us - well, telling us that they can't really tell us but - we should quit paying our house payment. Seriously?? Seriously. "Cause here's the deal - home prices have dropped so low in our area that there is no possible way to sell our house for what we owe. Not that we 'overbought' or anything, we were very reasonable when we bought this place. It's just - life today. Every single comp is either a foreclosure or a 'short sale' so there is no way - even if someone wanted to buy the house enough to pay full price - well, it wouldn't appraise out. So, we're stuck. But, the bank will generally accept a short sale only if the homeowner is obviously in distress (ie: behind on payments) which, we aren't. So, they are saying, well, once you move (next month) you'll have to pay rent there plus this house, will you be able to (not if we want to, oh, I don't know, eat) so, if it doesn't sell, do you want to long-term long-distance rent it (NO! Been there, done that) so, what does that leave you? Foreclosure? So, if that's where you're headed, why throw money away? Quit paying now, the bank may then accept your short sale, and maybe it will be sold before it forecloses, so that's your choice, really, or throw money into a pit......
Wow. Telling me to just quit paying my house payment seems like telling me to, I don't know, start shop lifting or something! You know, it's wrong and mom taught me not to! But, in a month, we'll be living in Virginia, and we honestly can't pay the rent and the mortgage here.... I don't know. I just don't know. It's....Weird.

Well. On to other things! Only two more weeks of school!! YAY!! I was mentally done, like, last month. We may yet make it through....

The dog is doing well. I worry about her daily, but she seems to be progressing. Not sure how long until I can breathe easier.... this Weds. will be her 8 week post-surgery mark.


One Reason I am Crazy

Yesterday marked the 5 year anniversary of my little sister passing away. I can't believe it's been that long. Honestly, I had been trying to decide if it'd been 3 years, or only 2.... then my mom was talking about it.... 5 years. It's really been messing with my head. And I've been crying alot the last couple days. They always say "Time Heals All Wounds" but no one ever explained how slowly time can move......

M I A

Wow, I have totally been missing in action around here! I really do want to post every day, but life is just - well, not like that right now. But, here's what's up:

The dog is doing okay. I worry about her alot. Today she is walking pretty good (not perfect by any means) but she has this little lump on her leg, in the knee area. And she seems, I don't know, not quite herself tonight. I am just not loving this whole cruciate - surgery - recuperation business, at all. Far too iffy, in my opinion. Scooter is coming home for a visit this weekend (YAY!!) so one of the 'fun' activities I have planned is a check-up trip to the vet. Oh, yeah, I know how to show a guy a good time!

The house is ALMOST done!!! Unbelieveable. Just a couple more things to pick up and put - somewhere - but I have a maid service coming Monday to do a serious cleaning, then the realtor will be out later in the week. Finally! I'm trying not to think about the garage, then the packing, the actual move.... and of course, now that spring is here, I've had to add watering, mowing, and weeding to my already-too-long list of things to do. Sheesh.

I am having someone else do homeschooling with Kiwi for a few days - weeks - whatever. I need the time to get my poop-in-a-group. Thank the Lord for good friends!

Well, that's about all the news from here. Except that YAY!!!! my husband will be here for 4 whole days!!! I have been missing him, way too much.

A new week begins - and ITBS, yee-haw!!

I hate waking up in the morning and dreading getting out of bed. Which is, pretty much every morning. Like there is nothing to look forward to, just another day of stuff I have to get done but don't want to do. I'm just having a pity party, I know - things really aren't that bad. It just feels like they are! We had to do banking and hit the post office this morning, so we got a really late start on school - I mean, really late, since we didn't even get out of bed 'til nearly 10am. So now it's almost 5pm and we're about midway through our lesson plan for the day. I really, really want to just be done with school... I can't see how it matters at this point, to have to finish up. It's just 5th grade, and she's ahead of the curve anyway.... Scooter thinks she needs to have "closure"; to finish up with the other kids in the co-op and all that hooey. To which I say "phooey". But then I still have to go to work on Tues. & Thurs. which are her co-op days, and it's right there at church, just like school is... I guess I just really want to be done with our M-W-F home days..... or, I could just quit work!! Yeah, right. I really need that money right now, pittance though it is. Pooh.

This week is ITBS.... which is Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.... why Iowa, I don't know.... I guess that state sets the Gold Standard, eh?! This is the test they give nearly all public school kids, as well as most private school students.... and we test our homeschoolers to show that they are doing as well - if not better than - publically schooled children. Last year Kiwi rocked these - at 4th grade, she tested at 7th - 9th grade levels in all subjects. She was in the 95th percentile of children. So, is she brilliant, or is the average public school kid waaay below the standard they ought to be?? Makes you wonder...... This year, she's struggling a bit, and I think it's the stress caused by daddy being gone. This quarter was the first she has ever gotten anything other than straight "A's" on a report card.... she got a B and a B+. Not like that's bad; it's just not typical of her. So I tried to warn her that the ITBS points might not be as high this year and not to freak out over it (she's waaay harder on herself than I am on her! I know she's bright; I don't need "percentages" to tell me that!

Well, I guess I need to go make sure she's on track.... I smell felt pens, lol.....

I'm feeling like a "less than"

Let me explain.... I've been popping around to some other homeschooling blogs, and I'm thinking "wow".... what am I doing again?? You see, I started off in a very unique situation; a homeschool co-op that is run like a regular school, two days a week. That's right - I homeschool M-W-F, and on Tues. & Thurs., Kiwi is in a classroom with a paid teacher and other students. It is run by our church, and I've really loved it the last 4 years.... this year ~ not so much. I started this way because I am totally disorganized, so I was scared to h.s. on my own... I figured I'd wake up one morning about the 1st of June and go "Crap! We haven't done any school this year!" I would. Honest. In our co-op, the teachers do all the curriculum planning and lesson plans and we pretty much just go along for the ride. Which was a cool way to begin, but I am tired of the inflexibility - because, I was thinking homeschooling was all about the flexibility! Our school was in the beginning, but it's kind of outgrown that stage of it's life.... we've got 200 kids in preschool to highschool now, so it needs to be, I don't know, the way it is, I guess. But I don't want to do it anymore - which is cool, since we're moving across the whole US and I don't really have a choice in the matter!! But I read all these blogs, and think.... huh, can I compete with that?? And c'mon, you'll say "it's not a competition" but, hey, I've been to the homeschool conferences, I hear the talk.... lol. In fact, people in my school have been quietly derided for not being "real" homeschoolers.... yeah, whatever! I personally get that same deal about not being a "real" mom since I just have one kid - I'm kind of a freak in the homeschooling world! It's cool; I'm tough, I can take it. Bring it on.... Anyhow, I do really want to do a good job on my own, and mostly, I really want to have FUN!! This year has been a tough one on my daughter and I, and I really don't want her to end up begging me to send her to school so she can get away from me!!

Next year should be an interesting one!