One of these Things is Not Like the Others

A beautiful ten mile road and trail run this morning as the sun rose in a blue sky on this brisk November day.

Politely waiting for breakfast to be served.  Good Dogs!

Can you guess which dog ran with me and which dogs stayed home?

Abundance and Gratitude

A Thanksgiving Hike with Family and Friends

Abundant blue sky, falling leaves, hiking with my children and parents, the boys spending time with family and friends, my husband home-- Surprise!-- for Thanksgiving.

Abundant blessings surround us.


Nevermind that our labrador ate the smoked turkey we left out on the counter . . . Gratitude that he did not have to be taken to the emergency vet after eating ALL those bones!

How do you play Settlers of Cataan?

Making Ninja Bread Cookies with Friends.

Denver on a Wire at the obstacle course.

No, it's not a hearing aid :-)
Jibby enjoys his music!

The Chess Game

My Dad and Me

Me and my Mom!

John Robert gets Humbled by Papa Dale.

Homeschool on the Cutting Edge!

I smiled to myself today as I read how some schools now have therapy dogs for the classroom.  The author referred to these schools as "on the cutting edge of educational developments."  

The writer shared research findings showing that the loving presence of a soft, gentle pet calms anxious students, fosters feelings of safety, and increases emotional support for children. 

Also, because they do not judge or criticize, therapy dogs are a safe audience for reluctant readers.  We have experienced all of this in the Degonia homeschool.  Who knew that we were on the cutting edge of educational developments . . . even as we lounge around in our pajamas?

Spencer enjoys Jake's support during a math test.

Humble Pie

Perhaps there is nothing more humbling than the flu.  I can now appreciate how truly wonderful everything was when I had energy to do my teaching and legal work, train the dogs, care for my children, keep the woodstove blazing, and clean the house.  

Today I am a lump of fever and sniffles.  As we all know, but frequently forget, it's the simple things in life that make us happy-- the energy to do one's work, the scent of freshly baked bread, keeping an inviting home for one's family, and watching your children (okay, husband, too) playing with a new puppy.  

I can't wait to get off this couch!

Spencer washes dishes yesterday.

John LOVES his new puppy.

Peace for Me

This morning in our home we have three sleeping boys and three sleeping puppies (or nearly puppies).  This will not last much longer; it never does.  

I tend to the fire in the woodstove, drink my coffee, listen to the sounds of sleeping children and dogs, and sigh.  This is peace for me.

Maximus Minimus meets his brothers.

  

Teaching and Learning

Denver shows me a baby pinecone.

If, as part of our science curriculum, I told Denver to pay attention to the little pine branch with the baby pinecones, he most likely would have resented the instruction and asked how much longer until homeschool is over!

It's a whole different experience when he races inside, ruddy cheeked, and exclaims, "Look at this!  Audrey and I found a baby pinecone!  Not this big one, but these two little bitty ones right here."  

We "Oohed" and "Aahed" and took pictures.  I am endlessly gratified by how much my boys learn without being taught.  It seems to me-- and to many homeschooling parents-- that learning is as natural as breathing when the question of the day is "What do you want to learn?" instead of "What am I going to teach?"

Being There

"Being there unconditionally for our children nurtures the beautiful side of the human spirit that resides in each one of us. It's a gift to the receiver and to the giver, and it leads both parties to a greater understanding of what it means to love."

--Karen James

Homeschool Mother

Splat!

John with buddies Quinn and Cameron at the Wildfire Paintball course in Conyers.

For the past two years, John Robert's birthday wish was for a paintball game with his friends.  Today I sat outside in the crisp, fall air watching him race around the paintball course full of old shacks and various obstacles dressed in what appeared to be riot gear and shooting green balls full of orange paint.  It took me a while to determine the attraction; but I had all afternoon to figure it out!

John and his friends are strategists at heart.  They love to discuss angles, trajectories, and various strike positions.  They are interested in playing different roles, discussing weapon strengths and weaknesses, and having a plan.  Paintball is one of the video games they love to play-- come to life-- but with very little danger to life and limb.  

There were other lessons to be learned today as well.  After we had been at the course for a while, we were joined by five new players. They were older; dressed in black and they looked intimidating.  I tensed a bit, wondering if they would be too rough for my young strategists.

To our surprise, they were delightful.  Friendly.  Willing to split up and include our guys on their teams.  They all had a ball, laughing afterward about who hit whom and admiring the big orange Splats on one another.

After three and a half hours, one pan of brownies, three gourmet cupcakes, a box of granola bars, and a cooler full of water and fruit punch, we finally packed up and headed home as the sun set.

I smiled to myself as they changed topic on the way home: discussing their favorite board games and deciding to have a board game night at one boys' house the following weekend.  My happy teenager and his friends.  Still just boys for a while longer.

The boys heading out for the start of another game.

Clean Bedrooms, Happy Boys-- and Momma, too

Quite by accident, today's change of pace made everybody happy.

You see, they told me they would clean their rooms before going Trick or Treating yesterday, but then they went upstairs and played legos or read books all afternoon.

This morning when I walked by their doors, John Robert's dresser was piled high with clothes that had never been put away.  Books and electronics were strewn around the floor.  His sheets smelled . . . funky.

Spencer and Denver's floor was so filled with nerf guns, dirty clothes, and assorted bits of lego pieces that I'd stopped walking into the room and had begun tossing things in from the door.  As of today, I had reached my limit.

I know that having a clean bedroom is my priority, not the boys. They don't complain about messes.  But sometimes a Momma gets tired of things not going her way.

What I did made no real sense: I gathered all the electronics in the house and piled them in a corner with a sign: You may use these items when I've finished cleaning your rooms.  Then I slowly went about the task of reorganizing the boys' closets, gathering summer clothes for storage, dusting, vacuuming, and washing sheets.  It took me ALL day . . . but I didn't hurry.  It turned out to be enjoyable-- going slow, and getting things done.

I thought there would be great crying and gnashing of teeth from the boys.  I thought they might pitch in and try to speed things along.  It didn't happen the way I expected.

John Robert silently went to his room, cleaned it thoroughly-- including vacuuming and sheet washing, and then went outside with his brothers to play with nerf guns.  He never mentioned my punishment or attempted to regain access to the computer or his cell phone.

To my surprise, Denver and Spencer immediately began a project involving duct tape, cardboard, and aluminum foil in the kitchen. Then all three of the boys went outside for a rousing nerf gun battle.  Afterward, they were hungry and cold.  I helped them make hot chocolate and then made pulled pork sandwiches.  The boys were delighted.

While I dawdled through the afternoon, working at a snail's pace, the boys began a game of Dinopoly (Monopoly with a dinosaur theme).  They never complained about the "punishment" I'd created.

At long last, when floors were not only visible, but vacuumed, Spencer came upstairs and hauled down three bags of clothes for Goodwill.  Both Denver and Spencer were pleased with their tidy closets and long lost winter pajamas I had rediscovered.

John Robert was so caught up in a science book, he didn't even notice that the great Screen Time Ban had lifted.  In fact, no one even paid attention to the electronics in the corner; at least not until after they'd devoured their taco dinner, and it was too dark to play outside.

Saying YES

My Favorite Word

by Lucia and James L.Hymes, Jr.

There is one word – 

My favorite – 

The very, very best. 

It isn’t No or Maybe. 

It’s Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, YES! 

“Yes, yes, you may,” and 

“Yes, of course,” and 

“Yes, please help yourself.” 

And when I want a piece of cake, 

“Why, yes. It’s on the shelf.” 

Some candy? “Yes.” 

A cookie? “Yes.”

A movie? “Yes, we’ll go.”

I love it when they say my word:

        Yes, Yes, YES! (Not No.)