All Good Things Must Come to an End!

Well, it has been a great adventure! But, alas! All good things must come to an end! I am no longer homeschooling Handsome! He will embark on the great adventure of a Charter School come Monday. And Girlfriend will start official preschool! And I will return to a much-loved career of Activity Director at a nursing home.

I was extremely blessed to have obtained the position I held for almost nine years, in the same company. It is a different facility, right down the street from my house, but the same company and position! I am very excited to begin on Wednesday. It was supposed to be Monday, but with Thanksgiving and all, it changed to Wednesday.

I am already planning out some events and exciting activities. It feels so good to be welcomed back and wanted in the company I worked for so long. Even the CEO came in to welcome me back.

I do feel sad regarding leaving my kids. But, due to the economy, it became necessary for me to find a way to make more, and for my daughter to find a way not to have to pay so much for child care. With our church having a preschool, and the Charter School being free, and this opportunity for me coming up now, it was obviously the right timing to make a move!

I think Handsome will have some difficulty adjusting, but overall will do okay. I think it will be a good opportunity for him to make new friends and experience different teachers' ideas. It will expand his knowledge base. Girlfriend will do fine! She is very social and up to snuff on her preschool stuff. The only thing is that the preschool teaches that what I call a diamond (and all of her books do too) they call a rhombus. That might confuse her a bit. A rhombus really is NOT the same as a diamond, but whatever! They seem to want to advance kids these days!

Well, I probably will not be blogging much on this site. I used it more for everyday (although I transgressed greatly on writing daily) events with the kids. That shall no longer be. I may start one regarding the nursing home adventures, because they will be many.

The Promised Pictures!

Change, It Is A-comin'?

Change! That's a word we don't like to hear at times. But sometimes it is necessary. I haven't written in this blog for awhile for various reasons. I am going to abandon this blog for a season. I will try to return in the near future to post the promised pix...I truly cannot find the attachments for doing so...but after that, I will not be blogging on THIS site for some time. At least, that is my plan. There are changes occurring with what I am doing with Handsome, and the other kids, the details of which are too uncertan at this timeto share here. I am still homeschooling right now just as before. But, sometimes, God wants us to explore ideas and try different things...so...we shall see what that means.

I honestly do not know what lies ahead. For now, all is the same. Did you ever get a feeling that change is coming, yet you weren't quite sure what it was? If so, then you know where I'm coming from! In the end, nothing may change very much...OR everything could change a LOT! At this point, there is a feeling in my heart...a sensing of a different direction, not because of anything bad, just because...

So, I will let you know when whatever is going to happen happens. I will inform you when the actual changes occur...if they do! And, if they don't, then I will resume this blog as before, with more attention and frequency...but probably not until the Holidays are over anyway.

I am starting a new blog, however, for the sake of sharing some of the stories I have written for, and with, my grandchildren, and children, over the years!

The new blog will have a new story on it AT LEAST weekly. It is my goal to eventually post one a day during the weekdays...we shall see.

You can find the new one at gr8stories4kids.blogspot.com I hope you enjoy it and find the stories valuable (or at least entertaining). Some of them teach life-lessons, or educational lessons, and some are just silly and fun! Enjoy!

Where has all the time gone?

Wow! We have finished a quarter of the school year already! Just can't be true! Handsome and I have harvested watermelon, planted corn and pumpkins, learned about bees, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators of the flora of this land. We have observed seeds, in various settings, sprout and have enjoyed caring for the many plants and animals so far this year.

We have anew student in the school. Her name is Roxie. She is a labador/dalmatian mix and an absolute great student. She sits, lies down, stays, etc. on command. She should be the teacher...the kids could learn from her! ha, ha!

I know I keep saying I am posting pix, but I really WILL get to it this week and will email the followers that they are up! My hubby thinks he knows where the cable is now for the camera to computer!

Change is in the air! Fall is here and we are trying some new things as well. Please return to this blog for further update as it unfolds...

Back in the Swing Again

I guess I could entitle this "Back in the Saddle" again, but with homeschooling there is definitely more swinging than saddling. Although, I suppose, if you use the word "saddling" to mean "trying to change the rules" then there could be a toss-up.

Hunky is in first grade now and goes to a local school. Girlfriend is excited to do her "school time" on a daily basis. She has her colors down now, and is working on her shapes. She gets about half of them right. "Rectangle" seems to be a bit of a hard word for her, so she looks up at me with big pleading eyes and says "I think its a tangle. What is it?" She does however, seem to get "triangle" right. Hmmm...
She enjoys joining Handsome in some of his science, history, and fine arts. I try to have learning centers each day of things that she cannot play with other than at times Handsome is in school. That way, they stay exciting and anticipated. Most days it works. Some days it doesn't.

Handsome is studying Botany for his main Science topic this year. He has a garden already planted that is growing watermelon. His pumpkin patch just sprouted. And we plant the autumn corn this week. We have herbs growing inside in a light hut we made as a project. Although we no longer have the saltwater aquarium, we do still have gold fish and they are growing contentedly in their bowls, in spite of the predictions of the store where they were purchased.

Next Tuesday we go to the Science Center for a class on Magnetisim. Hopefully we will have a great time and meet up with some of the kids from last year's classes.

Handsome's only truly "new" class is computer keyboarding. He liked it the first week, but not the second, so we shall see where that ends up on his enjoyment list.

We are officially doing music and art twice a week and the computers only once. And we rotate history, geography, and health as well. All other topics are daily. Third grade is quite a challenge! So far, though, we BOTH like it a lot!

What an Adventure!

It has always been my intent to keep up with the blogs and let my friends know what I am up to. However, sometimes the adventures of my life take over and I find the time to write less optimal.

I have added a precious granddaughter to my collection of grandchildren since I last wrote in this blog. She arrived on July 21, 2010 at 5:02 AM. Even though I normally use code names for this, I shall reveal her true identity this once...her name is Faith Elaine and she is beautiful! She weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and is 19 inches long. The birth was normal, without incident and she was "perfect" in every way. She took a long time to arrive, making for an eventful few weeks. Hereafter on this blog, she shall be referred to as "Baby Girl" as her cousin is now "Girlfriend". I shall post pictures as soon as I find the cord to the computer and phone and camera! AGAIN!

The last few weeks have been quite exciting. I boarded a plane on July 5th heading for Long Beach, CA, due to the fact that my daughter was having contractions that had been strong enough to be monitored at the hospital. Since this had occurred only for three days with her first child, it was assumed that Baby Girl was on her way. The next few days went the same...and then the contractions stopped...and started again...stopped and started again. The Dr. thought on Monday that it would definitely be that week. Baby Girl liked to tease us...the contractions kept us up several nights, and two more trips to the hospital worth...She seemed to be saying, "Yes, I coming on out to play today! No! I'm not! Just kidding!" This went on for several days.

I was beginning to feel discouraged. Seeing my daughter in actual pain, with strong contractions and even some breathing issues for so long was difficult enough in itself. Thinking I would have to come hoime before the birth was very disturbing. Fortunately for the children on the AZ side of my life, they had their aunt available as well as a "sister" and her family visiting. (Another day, another story) So, I was able to stay another week.

I made some "cook ahead" freezable dishes for my daughter to bake and eat on days when her husband, a doctor, has to work late or overnight. I cleaned everything I could find to clean. I washed up all the laundry the closets and drawers would hold. Apparently that worked for Baby Girl. She must have realized that Grandma had done everything necessary to perpare for her arrival.

So, on July 20, the water broke! YAY! Into the hospital we went, knowing we would not be sent home this time! There was still a long labor ahead, but our Baby Girl arrived in perfect order.

In the waiting time, I had quite an interesting time. We took public transportation all over Long Beach. Met lots of interesting people. It was obvious at times that certain types of people did not want to sit with certain other types. But overall, most people were friendly and courteous to one another, especially a pregnant woman with a toddler in tow.


We visited the library for story time. (I will try to post video of that later...I promise...not too much later...just check in a few days!)
One day we went to the pier and watched some boats take off for Catalina Island. It was a speed boat race. Quite a sight! There was a fireboat spraying water for a display of its powers and to make its prescence known should there be a need. Due to the crowds there, we decided to go on to Seal Beach, where Mr. Boo could play in the water. We had such a blast! We and I jumped the waves and waded out as deep as we dared. We found shells, seaweed, and some interesting critters. We built sandcastles (more or less) and had a great time. We had hoped that Mommy walking in the sand might trigger Baby Girl to decide to come out and play with us...

But the great thing is, that she came at just the right time! You see, her middle name, Elaine, was given in honor of her daddy's grandmother, Elaine, who passed away a few years ago. Grandma Elaine's birthday was July 21, so I guess our little one wanted to share the date as well as the name. This did make Great-grandpa very happy!

Well,now I am back to the drawing board as they say, which, actually, is quite appropriate right now. I am in the final stages of planning Handsome's third grade school year. And of course, Girlfriend's preschool year as well.

Hope all is well with the readers of this blog. I did learn a lesson through all of this: All things good are worth waiting for...and God has a better plan than I do!

Come On Out and Play!

Here I sit. On Friday evening, yes after my dose of silliness with Girlfriend, I boarded a plane for Long Beach, CA. The reason: My daughter informed me that she was having consistent contractions on her way to having my next grandaughter! Her doctor said she predicted it would be soon and quick. So, I got on a plane and headed here.

So much for doctor's predictions! We have walked many miles all over downtown and between, trying to keep the contractions going. They seem to start and go for hours, seeming like they are intensifying. Then they suddenly (or sometimes gradually) stop. (or lessen in intensity and frequency). It is like the baby is playing a game of "I want to come out and play today! No, I don't! I was just kidding!"
This has been going on the whole time I have been here. She is dialated to 3 which is where she got stuck on her first child. For two days! So, if that pattern continues, tomorrow will be day 2 of that. The difference is that her actual due date is not until July 26. Her first child was born exactly on his due date.

But, this one is a GIRL! Girls don't do things the same way as boys...at least not when they start life out with a big brother already! I do believe the doctor that this one will not make it to her due date. I certainly hope not! My budget cannot afford for me to miss out on the money making opportunities back home for more than a week. And, then, my hubby is already missing me! And he has a work sponsored retreat on the 23-25th that he desires me to attend with him.

So, here we sit. Doctor says Baby Girl is ready...now mom is trying to get ready...so, we wait for God to get ready, I guess. My daughter is still contracting. So, here is hoping we get a baby really soon...for her sake...I think she has had enough of those contractions. I did not labor this way. I guess I was fortunate. I had 3 babies. With first girl I just started contracting and she came out 18 hours later. The second, a boy,got in a hurry to compete with his sis in life, and only took 6 hours after one day of pre-contractions and a day of nothing in between. His little sis (this daughter I write about today) did likewise...only nine hours instead of six. And that was that! No long days of contractions getting nowhere...well, I guess if you have to do it this way, then they ARE getting somewhere...if nothing more than getting out of the way!

This is difficult for me. I don't want to miss my grandaughter's birth! I can barely stand to see my daughter hurt so much so long. So, if you have an "in" with God, please ask Him to help us out a bit! I am trying to wait patiently...but I don't do that very well...I know, I know, perhaps that is what He is trying to teach me! He has been trying to teach me that for a very long time. Good thing HE waits well!
So, Little One, Precious Babe, Come on out and play! Grandma is waiting!