Galloping Through the Days

The days gallop by.  Where did they go?  It is mid-September and I don't know where the summer went.

Reading to Jake-- who is a very good listener.
Sorry about the couch, Nana!

Spencer and Denver
at Turner Lake Park.

The danger of being busy seems to be my tendency not to appreciate the marvel of each day; so here are a few peeks.

Spencer's Commercial for Writing Workshop

Paw Paw's 75th Birthday!

Jibby wearing one of his father's shirts!

On our way to a church to hear a holocaust survivor speak.

There is nothing that makes me happier than a good day with the boys; no matter what we accomplish or fail to accomplish.  

An evening often ends with Denver's pronouncement, "I'm happy."

Me, too.

This Too Shall Pass.

My Pencie struggles some days.  Other days, he breezes right through.
Today there is NO breeze.

It must be remembered: not every day is this way.  Most days are pleasant, with rolling hills of pleasure and challenge.  Today has been the Black Death of homeschool days.

Today . . . 
Spencer is seven hours into his homeschool and finally nearly done.  I gave him a history assignment I thought he would enjoy.  Instead, he cried.  

In history class, Denver dressed as a plague
doctor today: he pokes a black death victim
with his cane.

His math took him three hours, and it was a six problem review of his last assignment!  

He has an essay due tomorrow, and I know he did a very poor job on it; but I can't bring myself to ask him to spend more time.  

I don't know what to do.  I don't know why he can't simply sit down and work.  Spencer has all the necessary knowledge and skill, but doesn't seem to be able to relax and do his work.  I don't know if being gentle is going to help Spencer learn, but I know that showing my frustration only creates more chaos.

Denver and Audrey hanging out and cuddling.

Denver is done with today's homeschool; he plows through his work like a bulldozer-- though not without complaint.  He zooms from history to math to grammar to Latin to reading and writing and then on to more exciting activities-- playing with Jake, exploring a new video game, pestering me or his brothers for attention every 15 minutes.  He tends to get underfoot much like the dogs-- wanting to be noticed, wanting attention, especially while I'm in the midst of trying to assist Spencer.

John Robert works like a humming machine.  He asks questions when he has them and then moves on to the next assignment.  He is helpful with his brothers, kind to me, and determined to solve his academic challenges.  He barely needs me, but I love his company, his sense of humor, his calm.  I am grateful for his presence on these challenging days. 

I don't know what to do to be a better mother and teacher.  I am trying to be quiet; to wait until I am calm before I speak.  Often my anger comes from not having my expectations met: I had hoped to go swimming this afternoon, maybe get some exercise, and walk the dogs.  Instead, I've spent the whole day teaching; and circling Spencer trying to sing and dance him through his work. Homeschooling and parenting are not always easy.  Yet this too shall pass.  I want it to be filled with mostly good memories.  Some days I don't know how.   

But What About Socialization?

The boys with three friends over to spend the night;
they spent hours outside playing nerf guns and swimming,
followed by talking into the wee hours of the morning.

Jibby and some of his classmates ham it up for the camera.
I told them to look like they were working!

It's All About Perspective

Drinking Diet Coke from an orange glass
 on the porch with sun streaming through.

I usually forget, but when I remember to look with a curious mind at the everyday things around me . . . 
I see beauty everywhere.

Audrey fetches a ball.

What's Happening?!

John Robert shows off his Luigi hat.

He has suddenly become confident enough 

to be silly!

What's Happening?! Instead of simply easing forward with homeschool, we have added several new activities.  They are each worthwhile, and yet I now have to consult my calendar daily to remember what is planned!

John Robert is taking three classes at the Montessori school: algebra, science, and a writing workshop taught by me.  Spencer also takes the writing workshop-- much to his dismay.  To my amusement, Spencer's latest writing piece is a persuasive essay entitled, "Why I Shouldn't Have to Write this Essay!"  Both boys are doing very well, and I'm pleased to see their writing skills in relation to other students. 

Spencer in striped shirt on far right
at the Shakespeare Theatre in Atlanta.

We've begun attending a monthly Shakespeare workshop with the younger boys and a couple of friends.  They've been acting and learning Shakespearean language.  We'll be going to see the opening of A Comedy of Errors this Thursday. 

Denver in the back row center.
He is making sound effects for the action onstage.

Today, Paw Paw takes John Robert and Spencer to meet local politicians at a Town Hall meeting.  They will meet a U.S. Senator, the Chairman of our board of commissioners, a state representative, and our district commissioner.  This will be a nice complement to their Constitutional studies they've been doing with Paw Paw all summer.

Paw Paw and the boys on their way to meet local politicians.

Spencer loves this sign at Jimmy John's sandwich shop;
this is where we stop after his weekly computer coding class.

Spencer is taking a computer coding class on Saturdays in Atlanta.  Denver is getting ready to begin a weekly dog training class, and John Robert's swim team begins again in one week.

We are busy with all the usual homeschool activities, too: Latin, history, math, writing, reading, Spanish, art, music, science, and grammar.

Years ago, I remember wondering what women did all day when they didn't work outside the home full time.  Now I know.  They are just as busy.  They just don't wear nice clothes and make up while they're doing it! 

The boys have returned to Latin studies
with Rosetta Stone.

Denver fills out his reading log.

Denver enjoys painting his plague doctor mask.

Cracking a New Code

Thanks to our friends Jill and Quinn, we have a new way to spend Saturday afternoons. They told us about Start:Code in Atlanta, and now Spencer will be spending the next seven Saturdays learning new and exciting things about computer programming.  He will be learning to program games using Scratch.

Spencer has been struggling mightily with his Java based Minecraft coding tutorial he has been working on since his birthday.  It is very demanding, and even the slightest error causes major problems.  Although he seems determined to progress with this tutorial, I do know that he has been very frustrated, as have I.

When I looked at Start:Code's website and saw all the beginner level courses, I asked Spencer if he would be interested.  A year ago, he said "No", but this summer he said, "Yes, That sounds good."  I think maybe he realizes that computer programming is a bit more complicated than he first thought, and that it might be nice to have a guide.

To his delight, his new teacher, Scott, is very knowledgeable and friendly.  The teacher's assistant at Start:Code is a young man named Emmanuel.  Spencer thought that his name was "a manual" and giggled to himself the whole time at the thought of having a human helper who was "a manual."

During his hour and a half class this afternoon, he never spoke to anyone other than the teacher and the assistant; and he never glanced at me.  I could not tell if he was having a good time or not.  After he packed up and we walked out, he said, "That was GREAT!  It was so much easier than coding in Java; and did you see the game I made?"  

I had seen his work, and it looked like a good start to a Pac-man style game.  He was very pleased with himself, and continued to work on his new program after we arrived home, taking a break only for dinner and swimming.

Good day with Pencie.

Meet Jake and Audrey

Jake and Denver

For my seven year old son, Denver, it is a dream come true: a dog of his own. 

We found Jake by accident when we went to PetSmart to purchase crickets for Spencer's gecko, Spike.  It happened to be Pet Adoption Day.  And there, lying on his side, was an 18 month old yellow lab.  Denver woke him up and took him out on a leash. I was talking to another woman when I looked over at Denver.  He and Jake were rolling on the sidewalk playing and kissing one another.  An undeniable match.  We signed some papers and took him home.

Earlier that week, I realized our house was far too quiet and clean without a dog.  I missed having a running partner; and even though I was not ready for another German Shepard who might remind me too much of Lady, I had been looking at puppy rescue websites.  

Audrey-- also known as Little Bit

I saw a photo of a gangly puppy with wide green eyes.  She looked like a doberman, but the website listed her as a purebred Australian Kelpie.  Having never heard of such a breed, I discovered that Kelpie's are medium sized herding dogs who can run for hours in hot weather; they are extremely intelligent, and fiercely loyal to their owners.  Perfect!

The problem was that after making an inquiry, I hadn't heard back.  So I assumed she was not available, and we came home with Jake.  One hour later, I received a call.  My four month old Kelpie puppy was bathed, spayed, had all her shots, and was waiting for me to pick her up!  After a moment's hesitation, I agreed.  She quickly became known as Audrey-- the bright, quick, and slightly ridiculous looking puppy.

Poor John was out on a nine day trip when all of this occurred.  He was not thrilled to hear of our new family members.  After five days home with them, however, he can't help but love them.  Uh . . . right, John?

Jake is all love and snuggles until you throw a ball.  Then he turns into bounding energy and lives up to his retriever name.  When not playing or eating, you can find him curled up snoozing.  He is perfect for Denver.

Audrey went from not knowing what a leash is to heeling, sitting, and lying down on command within about 24 hours.  When she snuggled up and slept next to John on his first night home, he didn't complain.  When she rolled over and fell down between the mattress and the footboard, he was alarmed.  She didn't yelp; she just looked up at him.  When he managed to free her, and she just went on her merry way, I think he was smitten.

So here we are with our new family members, Jake and Audrey.  You don't have to worry about being bitten, but they might jump into your car and lick you to death!