Absolutely Awesome Teen Activity

Two of the moms from our favorite homeschooling support group, Magdie and Cindy, organized an absolutely AWESOME activity for the teens. I was so excited to get to participate in the activity with Brett and Hannah, one of those nights that made me glad to have teens and even happier that they have such a great group of homeschooling friends to hang out with!

Prior to the event, the organizers divided the kids onto teams and assigned each team a driver (although none of the participants or drivers knew who was on the teams). Once everyone was told what team they would be on, each team was given a digital camera, a list and 10 minutes to come up with their plan of attack. We were given exactly one hour to complete as many of the listed activities as we could (points would be deducted if you returned late!). The final catch, no activities could be preformed on the host family's property! We were given the list at 5:35 PM and permitted to leave at 5:45 PM....the fun was on!

Here was the list:
Take a picture of your team in/on a shopping cart (5 pt)
Collect an unusual, clever or creative item along the way (5 pt)
Take a picture of your team by a police car (10 pt) (10 pt extra is including a police officer)
Take a picture with a total stranger. Your team must be in the classic "YMCA" pose (15 pt)
Take a picture behind a counter with a restaurant worker (20 pt)
Take a picture of your team riding a lawn mower (15 pt)
Take a picture of your team wearing halloween masks (10 pt)
Collect a napkin or a menu from an Italian restaurant (5 pt)
Take a picture of a horse (10 pt)
Take a picture of your team in a shower (5 pt)
Collect a sample of play sand (5 pt)
Take a picture of your team climbing a tree (10 pt)
Collect a bag of hot sauce (10 pt)
Take a picture of your entire team on a playground slide (10 pt)
Take a picture of your team at a graveyard making scary faces (20 pt)
Take a picture of your team doing the chicken dance in front of a stopsign (15 pt)
Collect a photocopy of your driver's hands (15 pt)
Take a picture of your team holding different kinds of balls (10 pt)
Take a picture of your team next to construction equipment (5 pt)
Take a picture of a team meember sitting on a beauty or barber shop chair (10 pt)
Collect a real estate magazine/book (5 pt)
Collect a feather (10 pt)
Take a picture of one of your team mates drinking from a waterfountain (5 pt)
Tkae a picture shaking hands with a bearded man (15 pt)
Collect a picture of someone wearing a wedding dress (10 pt)( 20 pt if you can get one of your teammates in a wedding dress!)
Take a picture of a bus (5 pt)
Take a picture of your team on a fire truck (20 pt)
Take a picture of a team mate riding on a kiddie ride (5 pt) (10 pt if you get 4 members to ride!)
Take a picture of your team with a scarecrow (5 pt)
take a pciture of yoru team in a swimming pool or hot tub (20 pt)
Collect a cornstalk (10 pt)
Take a picture giving an older person a hug (15 pt)
Take a picture of your team holding up traveling books (each team member must be holding a book from a different country) (15 pt)
Take a picture of your team mates with paper cones on their heads (10 pt)
Take a picture in front of White Castle acting sick after eating a slider (15 pt) The White Castle sign must be in the picture!

Our team started out by calling Target to see if we could take pictures in the store...when they told us "no" we went to plan "B". We would hit the local strip mall with a children's resale shop in it! Our first stop was White Castle and then the police station which just so happened to have a metro bus on layover at the bus stop...then to the strip mall. We used a children's rocking horse as our horse and a toy firetruck with everyone's foot on it as our firetruck picture! We grabbed an assortment of balls for the ball picture, then headed to the chinese restauraunt for our behind the counter picture (a funny picture would have been me trying to explain to the kind chinese worker what we were doing and that he needed to be in the picture)..the kids struck the YMCA pose behind the counter. We grabbed masks off a display at the $1 store, ran into BIG LOTS to copy my hands and snagged a picture next to their scarecrow display. used a stopsign in the parking lot for the chicken dance picture, found a bearded man as we ran back to the car. Then it was off to the park to knock out the water fountain pic, slide pic, playground sand, a picture with an older man (who was walking his older dog... Gumbo), as we left the kids snagegd their "unusual" item, a pooper scooper bag from the walking trail. We stopped at a pizzeria for their menu and snapped our paper cone picture there (at which point our camera died!!!), then ran into UDF (convient store) to grab a real estate magazine. Our final goal, to find a riding mower before reaching our host family's house (luckily one of our team members had a digital camera with him!). We pulled onto the street and I told the kids to get out a run and look in all the open garages...if they spied a riding mower to go and ring the doorbell....we were in luck...the first open garage had one, and although the homeowner looked quite baffled, he let us snap the photo! The kids SPRINTED down the street and LANDED on the front lawn EXACTLY at 6:45 PM...we were the second team to arrive, the team behind us was a minute late (thus losing one point) and the final team was 7 minutes late (thus losing 7 points).

Everyone munched on pizza and drank sodas as they hooked up the cameras to the tv for everyone to watch and the judges (4 parents who didn't drive) to score each team. The pictures were HILARIOUS! I am hoping the host family emails me some of them, they are perfect "blackmail" pictures!

Our team WON by a WHOOPING 12 points (it was really one by 5 points because team #4 came in second and had the 7 point penalty)...the prizes were just little trinkets and junk the host family had laying around but the kids LOVED it! Brett said it was the BEST teen activity every and Hannah loved it (btw, Hannah looked so PRETTY ...she just had on jeans and a sweatshirt but she looked so nice...her hair us just pulled up in a "sloppy" bun and she had on a little eyeshadow and mascara...she is really blossoming into a beautiful young lady!).

The only things I would change are that I would make sure each team had two cameras (although ours was the only one that died!), I would add a few more things to "collect" and I would try to burn a copy of the pictures for each family to take home after the event.

Following the scoring, the teens stayed and hung out for a couple hours. I had to leave and pick up Will (I had asked my mom to watch him because Jay had to take everyone else to Jacob's football game...which he WON by the way, their first victory of the season!). My mom said Will cried the WHOLE time, poor baby, he has NEVER not had one of his siblings or mom or dad with him. At least she didn't say she would never watch him again, just that next time he had to bring one of his siblings with him! Apparently they even took him for a walk, and he was "happy" when they were walking away from their house (we guess he thought they were walking him home) but when the turned to go back he threw himself on the sidewalk and screamed hysterically....he screamed the whole walk home (my mom thought someone might even call the cops he was screaming so loud!). He survived though and nursed happily when he saw me!

Like I said, I hope I have pictures to post soon!

It was an absolutely GREAT night!

OK, the portrait club queen is at it again! These are Will's 15 month pictures! I can't believe how cute they turned out. She took 9 pictures and they were all very cute! I love the ones of him with the football, shows just how small he really is. I wish I had thought to bring his big brothers football jerseys and helmets...maybe for his October photos. I can't believe how quickly they got the pictures to me, I had them taken on Sept 28th and they were in my email box by Monday, not even a week later!

GLORIOUS DAY!

Yesterday I heard the weather forcast that we would have one last day of the Indian Summer we have been enjoying with temperatures in the mid 80's and sunny skies. So I sent the following email to some of my homeschooling friends...

Anyone interested in meeting at Nisbet Park in Loveland tomorrow and letting the kids get in the Little Miami River and explore how "healthy" it is? There is river access right off the playground and a quiet "feeder" area for the kids to explore. My kids are dying to use the information they have collected at recent stream studies to assess the river and it looks like it will be HOT (87) tomorrow (and it may be the last warm day we have this fall!). Mine will probably have on swimtrunks (boys) and shorts over swimsuits (girls).

The plan would be to meet around 11 AM.....get in the river, play, then break for lunch, play some more...if the kids want, they could paint river rocks (we will supply paint, paintbrushes and newspaper). There are picnic tables and playground equipment. Public restrooms. Plenty of shade!

What to bring: your own nets, a container for holding what you collect (bucket, dishpan, plastic storage box) while you study it, shoes for getting wet, a towel for drying off, sunscreen, picnic lunch, snacks, water (there are water fountains by the restrooms).

The park in located in historic downtown Loveland. To reach the park, take I-275 to exit #52 (Loveland Indian Hill) at the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left onto Loveland Maderia Rd. Follow for a while (you will pass McDonalds and the Elementary School and the post office) turn RIGHT onto W. Loveland (there is a minimart on this corner and an old Movie Gallery building on the opposite corner).....follow W. Loveland through 2 traffic lights and turn LEFT into the parking area for Nisbet Park at the flashing crosswalk (for the bike trail) right after The Mill Coffehouse...if you cross over the railroad tracks, you went too far....once you pull into a parking space, the playground equipment is in the back left hand corner if you are looking at the park. The kids and I may walk (we only live about 2 blocks away), so don't think we aren't there if you don't see the van when you pull in.

Email me if you think you may want to join us! Feel free to pass the invitation onto anyone that you think might be interested....the more the merrier!

Two families decided to join us...the Hensleys and the Lelands. Of course I got there and realized I had left the identification keys and field guides at home, but since we lived so close (literally 3 blocks away), I ran home and grabbed them! We looked like we knew what we were doing, field guides in hand, nets, collection tubs!

We went down to the river around 11:30 AM and the kids were eager to get in. We decided that even though the main part of the river was low that we would stay in the side area so we didn't have to worry about the current. The kids eagerly dug in and found lots of critters.....mayfly larva, leeches, crayfish, minnows, water pennies, snails and snail eggs just to name a few. We even found a small snake who had unfortunately been injured (he died despite the kids trying to "save" him) and a rather large piece of snake skin. Emily also found a cool rock with many fossils in it. The kids swam in the water. Will even enjoyed himself, splashing around and "fishing" with his net! He got himself totally soaked and was sandy and cold so I ended up stripping him naked and carrying him in the sling...he was so happy to be "ala natural"!

After we played for about an hour and a half, we went up and ate lunch. The kids played on the playground for a while. The kids were eager to go back down in the river so we went back in the water. When we walked back down, there were a couple kingfishers flying and calling along the river. I had never seen one in person before, they really were a sight to behold!

The kids explored some more, swam a bit, buried each other in the sand. It was just such a joy to watch them play, see them connected with the earth, being kids! All 3 of us moms took lots of pictures, I can't wait to see them all!

Every collected cool rocks and once we were done playing in the water we went back into the park and we painted rocks. Emily made a beautiful rainbow on her rock, Hannah painted a chinchila. True Hensley painted a very COOL face/head on her rock (I told her she should enter it in the state fair).

Afterwards we headed home and then to the dance studio. Sophie had her ballet class and Emily had ballet technique. From there we swung by the house to pick up Hannah, Grant and Jacob for religion classes up at church. Once they got home we ate dinner and then MIRACLE of MIRACLES I got to watch an ENTIRE episode of LOST without ANYONE interupting me! I think that is a first!

Hope eveyone else had a glorious day too!

She made it!

Emily didn't want me to say anything to anyone until we knew the results.......2 weeks ago she went down and auditioned for the Cincinnati Ballet's production of the Nutcracker! We got a packet in the mail this afternoon letting us know the results....

Miss Emily will be a soldier with sword!

We think it is such a huge honor that she will get to dance in a professional ballet production and be on stage with professional ballet dancers. We see it as a reaffirmation of our belief that she is a very talented dancer. Not only was she cast, but she was cast in a role that is usually reserved for girls 13 and up! The only downside is that another girl from our dance studio (who isn't very kind) is also in the production......well at least she can no longer claim to be the better dancer!

I had to laugh at some of the info in the packet they sent us. One of the funniest things was a comment that per union regulations, parents are not allowed to touch the costumes! As a mom who has spent hours sewing costumes for competition teams, I find this so ironic! I told Emily I guess I won't be able to hug her before she goes on stage! Not like they let parents backstage at a professional ballet performance!

The parent meeting is Friday, October 7 at 7:45 PM. I will have more details then!

I am just BURSTING with pride!

Identity Crisis

Earlier this evening, Cade and I sat reading a book about dolphins. It was one of those books that poses questions and then answers them. On one of the pages it talks about mama dolphins feeding the baby dolphin and the comment went something along the lines of a mama dolphin nurses her baby every 15 minutes for the first year of it life. Cade started laughing and said "maybe Will is a baby dolphin."

He is right, Will still nurses almost constantly. I am going to assume though, that since a dolphin never really sleeps (1/2 of its brain stays awake at all times) that mama dolphin might be a bit more tolerant of the all night nursing fest! Jay and I have both stated of late that had Will been our firstborn he would have most likely been an only child!

So I suppose it might be possible I am raising a baby dolphin in disguise...at least Cade finds humor in the whole thing!

My beautiful son!
I just loved this picture that they took of Grant when his team played in the Kings Bowl.

His team doesn't usually wear the black jerseys but they were playing another Loveland team so both teams couldn't wear orange.

Interesting article

Below is a copy of an article that came across one of the list I am on, I really found it interesting. Forgive the formatting, it didn't copy and paste very well! If you get a chance, check out their website at www.elijahcompany.com there is even a newsletter you can sign up to recieve!

As a mom who believes in child led learning, the article really hit home with me. Having had my children home for so many years now, I am used to the blank stares and wide opened mouth expressions I get when I answer someone "we don't use a curriculum" or "we don't do school". Yes, some of my children chose to take classes, some ask for a textbook on this subject or that, some work through a workbook of their choice, but what we do most is just live our lives. When I look at my kids, the bright, beautiful, energetic creatures that I share my life with, I doubt that a lack of school is harming them in any way!

"A MISUNDERSTOOD MOVEMENT?"

I don't know how keeping our children home during the day came to beknown as "Home Schooling," but I do have a theory: If I asked most adults, "What is the appropriate activity for every child, age sixto age eighteen, during the days Monday through Friday?" Most adultswould say, "These are the years when a child is being schooled, ofcourse." That is why we have such phrases in our vocabulary asthe "school age child." So, if a child is to be "schooled" duringthese formative years, the only real question is, "Where will he be schooled?" Today, the answer is, "He will either be public schooled,private schooled, Christian schooled, or home schooled."Assuming, then, that every child is to "be schooled" during the day,if he is home during the day, he will be home schooled during theday. Hence the origin of the label "homeschooling."Is "schooling" really supposed to be a child's primary dailyactivity? It wasn't until the advent of the modern public schoolmovement. Schooling a child was never meant to be the "constant"with the variable being where the child spends his or her day. Ithas always been just the other way around.What is so problematic with the term "Home Schooling" is what it hasdone to parents whose children are spending their days at home.Giving an activity a label means something to those involved in theactivity. If we are comfortable with certain words in the label andnot so comfortable with other words, those words with which we feelleast secure will take on greater significance. Insecurity is a niceword for fear. Whatever we fear becomes a driver in our lives as weattempt to overcome our fear and feel secure again.When we sent our children to school, we felt a sense of securitythat trained professionals were educating them. We didn't pretendthat we could do a job which others had spent years being trained todo. We might feel that we could raise our children in some areas,but not to provide for their education.Then, one day, we became homeschoolers. Insecure homeschooler; buthomeschoolers nevertheless. However, since what we were doing waslabeled "homeschooling," we, in our insecurity, actually became home-SCHOOLERS rather than HOME-schoolers. The importance of our childrenbecoming educated (isn't that what children do during the day?) tookon greater prominence than the importance of them being home. Thisis understandable when we realize that there is no cultural memoryof what having our children home really means to the family or tosociety.What did I mean when I told my son, "And, your kids won't behomeschooled"? During Seth's years at home, his academic educationwas never the main priority. In our home, we did have a rigidpriority structure, but those priorities were first relationships;second, practical skills; and, finally, academics. Seth grew up witha strong academic upbringing, but academics were never our priority.Seth is a skilled, very competent individual of the highestcharacter. He is also one of the happiest young men I have everknown. As I look back at Seth's time at home, I have come to realizethat he was never "homeschooled." He simply grew up in a mostremarkable place—his homeWhen our children were young we would take them with us to thestore. Other kids were in school. The check-out lady wouldinevitably ask, "You boys aren't in school today?" Since the boysknew we were homeschoolers, they would respond, "No, ma'am, we'rehomeschooled."STARTING OVERIf I could do it all over again, I would not callourselves "homeschoolers." I have actually come to dislike the termbecause I think it creates significant problems. If I were startingover again, when the lady at the store says, "You boys aren't inschool today?" I would teach the boys to say, simply, "No ma'am,"and let it go at that.In just the past year I have noticed a growing distinction betweenfamilies who are homeschooling and those whose children are home,but not being homeSCHOOLED. Are the "not-being-homeschooled"children receiving a quality upbringing, including a qualityeducation? Today enough research exists that I can honestly say anunequivocal "yes". I would even go so far as to say that the not-being-homeschooled child is receiving an education which is superiorto the child being homeschooled. [For a fuller discussion on this,see our article, "Identity-Directed Homeschooling"].The availability of what has come to be known as "prepackagedcurricula" is helping manifest a separation of the two types offamilies who were once grouped together under the oneterm: "homeschoolers." Many parents purchase prepackaged curriculabecause they don't understand what God originally intended when Hebegan this movement over twenty years ago.What do you think your children should be doing all day now thatthey are home? Probably the most obvious way to determine what youreally believe is to ask yourself, "Is my child the constant or ismy child's education the constant?" Look at the materials you use tobring learning into your child's life. Do you use graded,prepackaged, curricula? Is your child in a grade as he would be ifhe were in an institutional setting? Do you follow theinstitutionalized Scope & Sequence educational model? Or, have youstepped completely out of the lock-step, institutional way ofraising your child?This article is not intended to discourage, but to give hope. Inmost parents' hearts is the desire to reprioritize their livesaround what is truly important to them: having a relationship withtheir children. To bring your children home can be an immenselifestyle change. For some, making this change has to be done instages. If you have brought your children home it may have beennecessary (for a season) to place before them the everpopular "curriculum-in-a-box." Hopefully, that season will be short.Our children never went to school, were never in a grade, and wenever used a prepackaged curriculum. Nevertheless, it took us awhile to learn all that I am sharing with you here. Be encouraged.You are allowed to do what your heart tells you is right.IF WE AREN'T HOMESCHOOLING, THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING?Right now, nearly two million children are spending their days athome rather than "at school," thus putting an end to a 150year "detour" which began in the 1850's and which seriously harmedfamily life and Kingdom community as God initially intended them tobe lived. As families leave this detour and turn onto the road whose name is "Life As It Was Intended To Be," we will see vistas we have only read about in books. Let me offer some suggestions.

1 Don't send your children to school. Any school. Bring them home.Raise them to be the individuals God has created them to become.

2 Don't bring the school, any school (along with its "efficient",but arbitrary, grade levels, scope & sequence, and boxed curriculum)into your home. Allow your children to learn through life and therelationships around them.

3 Learn how to awaken curiosity in your children. (This is thesubject of a future EJournal.)

4 The only thing that should be prepackaged is your child. By thisI mean your child was born with all the talents, giftings, andcallings put into him or her since the foundation of the world. Findout what these are and let your child become truly good at what youfind. [For a fuller discussion of this, order the Davis'tape, "Identity Directed Homeschooling"]

5 Dad's heart must turn toward his children and the hearts of thechildren must turn toward Dad. Ultimately, this may bring Dad out ofthe corporate workforce to come home. This final step may takeanother generation to be fulfilled. But, for it to be fulfilled,Dads must at least begin moving in that direction (ie. Giving hischildren the option of becoming entrepreneurs).

6 In your own home, let "homeschooling" die. In other words, don't homeschool your children.God has asked us to raise a generation prepared for the future by becoming exactly what He intended each person to become. This willbe different for each and every child. Your home is the place wherethe acorn can become the oak tree. Or, the seed can become the mapletree. Or, the other seed can become the pine tree. Plant your children squarely in their own home and allow the individual God created to grow.

Chris Davis is the founder of the Elijah Company and a father of 4children."

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Granny's Garden "Homeschool" kickoff

Today the back gardens at the elementary school were buzzing with lively children. 26 homeschooled children ranging in age from 3 to 16 met to work in and learn from the beautiful gardens of Loveland Elementary School. I know, I know, homeschoolers in a school garden sounds so odd and I really can't help but find some irony in it all. We started out by touring the gardens and then divided the kids into 4 groups. The kids then picked a name and color for their group.

Here is a copy of an email I sent out earlier this week to all the garden group families:

Welcome everyone to the inaugural year of the Granny's Garden Homeschool Program! Our first meeting is next Wednesday, September 14th starting at 1 PM.

We will be meeting in the gardens on the hill behind the elementary school. Follow the driveway around to the back of the school. For those unfamiliar with the school's location, it is located on Loveland Maderia Rd next to McDonald's. To get there, you take I-275 to exit #52 (Loveland Maderia Rd) and turn LEFT onto Loveland Maderia Rd. Follow it a couple of miles until you see McDonald's and you have found the school!

Please bring your $10 fee per child to the first class. If you need additional time to pay, or need to break your payment over a few classes, just let me know!

There is a scarecrow building contest going on right now involving many of the classes that use the gardens. The scarecrows will be auctioned at the fall garden party (info on the fall garden party and scarecrow contest is at the homepage www.grannysgardenschool.com ) . I thought it might be fun to have the kids make some scarecrows after the first class. If your children would like to participate, bring any items you would like to use on the scarecrow to our first class! We would probably spend about 30 minutes or so following the class to make the scarecrows.

Below are the details about the garden program:
Homeschool Garden Program
Fall: Sept 14, Sept 28, Oct 12, Oct 26
Spring: Mar 22, Apr 5, Apr 19, May 3, May 17, May 31
Time is from 1 PM to 3 PM
Cost will be $10 per child for the entire program (basically it is $1 a week!) payable the first week of class
Organizer: Laura Riesenberg

Laura writes: Join Granny (aka Roberta) in the beautiful gardens on the grounds of Loveland Elementary School and experience Granny's Garden School. Through the course of this summer, Roberta and I have become quite close and she LOVES homeschooling families and is eager to work with our children. She has set aside 10 afternoons for our children to work in and learn from being in the gardens (and is hoping we will all decide to continue into the summer). The kids will have their own garden set aside for them. Each session will include gardening activities and some kind of related craft. All ages welcomed and encouraged. Roberta even said she would love to have some of the older kids plant and harvest veggies and then have their own produce stand next summer (talk about the perfect economics class!). The program will probably evolve as we go along, but here are a few ideas we have for this fall. You can check out her website at www.grannysgardenschool.com for an idea of what kinds of things go on at the garden and how beautiful they are!

Week 1: topic: Introduction to the gardens.
craft: pressing flowers/drying flowers

Week 2: topic: Gardening, collecting seeds
Craft: seed packs...then at home, younger children can draw and color a picture of the flower and write the name of the flower on the packet. Older children can research growing information to include on the packet, i.e. depth to plant, height and size of plant, etc.

Week 3: topic: Preparing the garden for winter/planting spring bulbs
craft: Rooting cuttings from the garden and planting to winter off inside.

Week 4: topic: Possibly harvesting produce from the gardens, digging dahlias for storage, composting
craft: baby scarecrows

Possible Spring topics:Planting an early garden of lettuce, peas, radishes, onions etc.
Starting perennials and annuals from seed.
Possible spring crafts: painted garden rocks, painted flowerpots, cutting jars, pressed flower cards/bookmarks, hummingbird feeder

If you are interested in this program, please contact Laura at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com

Follow up from Granny (During our first lesson, we pressed and dried flowers so Granny sent out the following):

Link to pressing flowers page
http://www.grannysgardenschool.com/Activity_Pressing_flowers.html

Link to hanging flowers to dry page http://www.grannysgardenschool.com/Activity_Using_Dried_flowers.html

I really like having parents to work with the kids, however, it was obvious today that sometimes we have too much of a good thing. Today we broke the group into teams. I will leave it up to you all to come up with a way to identify the each team between now and when we get together in two weeks. This is what I would like to do when we get together in two weeks.

We will stay with the teams we designated today, with changes as may seem necessary.

Have an older child assigned permanently as the leader of each of the four groups.
This is truly a leadership position and the child will have regular responsibilities that will be laid out in another e-mail.

Each week one of the other children in the group will serve as assistant leader.

Each week two adults will be assigned to work with each group during their gardening time.
The ones who are not garden volunteers that week will be assisting with the craft/take home activity for that day. If you prefer garden or crafts, you may decide to do that activity all of the time.

This will allow us to provide a much better learning experience for the kids. It will allow time for exploring and learning something that can not happen with the herd approach. I welcome your feedback. Help me to develop a program that fills your needs.

Thanks
Roberta

I had to share this picture of Emily. It was taken at nationals in Chicago and I just love it. She looks like she is having so much fun!

I finally have the scanner hooked up and the computer back from the shop.

Reds Hall of Fame

So many times in life, events and places do not meet with my expectations. Let me tell you now, the Reds Hall of Fame far exceeded every expectation I had. Since I am not a huge professional baseball fan, I expected to be "bored" with the tour I arranged for our homeschooling group. I was so surprised at how informative the "extra innings" program was and how hands on the actual museum was. My dad joined us for the outing, so I had an extra "kid" to keep track of! I took tons of pictures, I will post them soon!

The tour began with the extra innings program called "The Reds on the Radio" and Carrie, the education coordinator did a fantastic job presenting the program to the kids. The best part was at the end when she had the kids put on their own radio broadcast which she recorded for us to take home. Proud mom moment here, Grant, who really struggles with reading, raised his hand to do one of the reading parts in the program (I think in part because his friend Chris also took a reading part). He got through his part without stumbling, and even though it was only a couple of lines, it was a major accomplishment because he had to read along with the whole play to know when it was his turn to speak!

After we finished the extra inning program we were led upstairs to where the majority of the exhibits for the the hall of fame are located (although the Babe Ruth exhibit was on the main floor). As you head up the steps to the 3rd floor, you pass the rose garden and a white rose marks the spot where Pete Rose's record breaking hit (4192) landed. The wall leading upstairs is lined with baseballs, each one representing one of Rose's hits.

I was amazed at how hands on and kid friendly the museum was. The guides that led us upstairs were super friendly and seemed to really enjoy the kids (and I have to love the "they are so well behaved" comments). One of the guides must have thrown pop-ups to my little boys for 20 minutes so they could catch them while running into the outfield wall! The kids loved the pitching lane and the broadcast both. Beyond the kid friendly area where the areas that showcased the world series trophies (have to chuckle here because when I saw them all I could do was laugh and recall the Seinfeld episode where George destorys the Yankees World Series trophy in an attempt to get fired). Beyond that room is the final room with the actual hall of fame inductees (sp). Pete Rose, of course is not allowed to be represented in that room!

After spending about an hour in the Hall of Fame, we went down and ate lunch inside the stadium. The guides let the kids look at the field, we were hoping someone might be taking batting practice or fielding practice, but no such luck! After lunch we went back upstairs and spend another hour playing in the Hall of Fame!

The kids are eager to go back. Even Emily really liked it (I was surprised, since she isn't a big professional sports fan!)

Here are the details I emailed out to the homeschooling group about the tour:

Tour of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum plus Extra Innings Program (see details below)
Friday September 9, 2005
10 AM (arrive by 9:45 AM as I have to pay as a group BEFORE the tour begins)
$3 per student (ages 3 to highschool senior)
$5 per adult
Free for those under 3 years old

The Hall of Fame is opening a lunchroom for our group so that we can stay and eat lunch. They will have a bin to put lunches in when you enter the Hall of Fame.

The Red's Hall of Fame and Museum is a Palace for the Fans! With the formation of the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, professional baseball and America's passion for the sport were born, and grew, right here in Cincinnati. Now, for the first time, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum offers fans of the Reds, and of baseball, the first comprehensive look into the sport's heralded past. Nowhere else are fans able to see as complete of a collection of artifacts from the first professional baseball team and its rich history in the major leagues. And nowhere outside of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., are baseball fans treated to such an amazing visual history of the World Series and Opening Day. The Reds Hall of Fame, which opened to the public Sept. 25, 2004, is just west of Great American Ball Park, the home of the Cincinnati Reds, along Cincinnati's riverfront. The facility features more than 16,000 square feet of exhibit space on two floors.

In addition, from May 13-Oct. 2 a rare Babe Ruth bat and ball - both with Cincinnati connections - will be featured this summer. The bat, used by Ruth in the 1921 season, was presented personally by the Bambino to Harry Borgman in January 1922. The Ruth ball dates to 1935 and was hit into the sun deck at old Crosley Field by Ruth during batting practice in the final days of his career.


Extra Innings program: Reds on the Radio! geared for those 3rd - 8th grade, but the coordinator knows she is working with a diverse group!
Long before television or the Internet, baseball games came alive on the radio. In those early days, radio announcers weren't always at the game but were receiving signals from a telegraph far away! In this program, students learn the inside secrets of an early Reds radio broadcast and help to create those sound effects that made the game sound so realistic. Then, using original telegrapher's code, they'll create an old-fashioned broadcast of their own!

The price of $3 per student (ages 3-grade 12) is an AMAZING savings, as it is usually $5 for anyone ages 3-12 and $8 for anyone over 12 years old. The cost is $5 per adult (again a savings of $3).

The tour begins with our extra innings program and it will last about 1 hour, followed by heading into the hall of fame. Once we are in the hall of fame, we are welcome to spend as much time as we like touring the museum.

RSVP to Laura with the number of partipants/adults.

DIRECTIONS TO THE REDS HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is located on the west side of Great American Ball Park along Main Street.

From I-75 southbound: -Take the Second Street exit on the left toward DOWNTOWN/RIVERFRONT.-Stay on Second Street heading EAST, and the ballpark will be on your right.

From U.S. Highway 50 eastbound:-Take the Second Street exit on the right toward DOWNTOWN/RIVERFRONT.-Stay on Second Street heading EAST, and the ballpark will be on your right.

From I-71/I-75 northbound:-Take the Second Street exit on your right after crossing the Brent Spence Bridge.-Stay on Second Street heading EAST, and the ballpark will be on your right.

From I-71 southbound:-Take the Third Street exit on the left toward DOWNTOWN/RIVERFRONT.-Turn LEFT onto Walnut Street.-Turn LEFT onto Second Street.

From U.S. Highway 50 westbound (Columbia Parkway):-Take the Sixth Street exit on the right.-Turn LEFT onto Sycamore Street.-Turn RIGHT onto Third Street.-Turn LEFT onto Walnut Street.-Turn LEFT onto Second Street.

From I-471 northbound:-Take the Third Street exit on your right after crossing the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge. -Take Third Street to Walnut Street. -Turn LEFT onto Walnut Street. -Turn LEFT onto Second Street.

PARKING FOR THE REDS HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

The parking garage underneath Great American Ball Park can be accessed from the Pete Rose Way entrance (at the corner of Pete Rose Way and Broadway) or the Mehring Way entrance (facing the Ohio River). Once inside the garage, follow the signs for the Hall of Fame and Museum to access the elevator and stairwell that leads to the Hall of Fame entrance. Parking is $4 per vehicle. Nearby parking is also available on Third Street (parking meters).

There is no such thing as a normal homeschooler....

These where the words my oldest son said after I picked him up from an adventure camp retreat this past week! Of course he quickly followed that statement with the following "we are either weird, weirder or wierdest!"

I asked him which one he was and he laughed and said "weird". As I went through the list of the kids who had been on the retreat with him, I came to conclude that the "cool" kids were weird and some of the more stereotypic homeschooled kids were "weirdest". Unfortunately I tended to agree with his assessments!

He had a blast at the retreat which was held at Camp Kern. They did Pete's Peak, a High Ropes Course and a 40 ft. swing. There was plenty of time for socializing and hanging out. Of course the group, 12 boys, 12 girls, tended to break into smaller groups and my son happened to be in the only "co-ed" group (you know the "weird" kids)! One of the veteran homeschooling mom's organizes the outing (and she didn't even have a child attending this year!). It is such an awesome opportunity because the kids get to work on teambuilding skills while testing their own limits with a group of their friends!

I loved being the one to pick him up and get to hear his stories first hand while they were still fresh in his mind. I love that so much of it comes through uncensored (OK I am no fool, I don't believe my child tells me everything!). we even stopped at a "truckstop" and grabbed chili cheese fries so that I could spend more time listening to his stories. God, I love that kid!

4-H kick off

Genny wrote:

Hi,
I hope you enjoyed your summer and are ready to restart 4-H. The new year is about to begin. We will have our first meeting on Thurs.Sept. 8 at 6:30 pm at my house. The address is **** Elmwood Rd. Batavia OH 45103. Map quest directions are usually accurate.

We will be planning our year and setting up project groups. We plan to have art, bikes, and rockets project groups so far. I know more project groups will be set up at the meeting.
I hope this time will work for you.
Thanks,
Genny Green

The kids are really excited about kicking off the 4-H year and are even more excited because some of their homeschooling friends have decided to join them! We are even talking about forming a mini club called the HOMESCHOOL HIVE so that we can get together during the day to work on some projects. Grant missed this first meeting because of football, but the girls and I went along with our friends the Lelands.

My girls are really excited and we have already gone and picked up 15 books to look over and use this year. Grant was disappointed that the one book he really wanted wasn't available, but we are going to work on some other things until it comes in. Turns out his friend Christopher's dad might be able to help him do the small engines book (crank it up). I need to look over the book with him to see if it is something he might be interested in doing.

The girls books are mainly sewing and cooking projects. They each have areas that interest them and it is so great how 4-H allows them to explore the things that they really like. I did pick up the "horseless horse" book for Hannah, Kas says she has a real eye for horses, even to the point that she could probably train to judge horse shows. We will see if she decides to do the book.

Cade and Jacob will be cloverbuds again this year. Sophie wants to be a cloverbud so bad, we are just going to let her pretend!

Genny is going to offer art again this year. But this time, she is going to rotate it through the members houses. I found it really ironic that the mom that offered to hostess first is the same mom that last year said her kids can't paint in the house and that they have never dyed easter eggs because it is messy! I can't wait to see what projects she has in store for the kids! We will be hosting sometime later this fall or over the winter. We have plenty of space and plenty of supplies! The girls are already planning was kinds of projects they want to work on here!

WEBN Fireworks!
Sunday, September 5
Dusk

Grant had a football game at 5 PM, so we didn't manage to make it down to the Ridiman's house until about 7 PM. They live in the historic district of Newport and always throw a party to celebrate the BIG WEBN fireworks on the river. By the time we got there, traffic was getting thick, but luckily we were able to snag a parking spot at the Library on a few blocks from their home (at the ever so reasonable rate of $6!). The older kids were really looking forward to the fireworks and I was looking forward to seeing Kas. The added bonus, our husbands would be meeting for the first time (in the 2 1/2 years Kas and I have been friends, their paths never managed to cross!).

Everyone but me, Kas, Cade and Will headed down to the fireworks. It was so nice to get to sit and talk to Kas alone! She was stressed over her in-laws...they really were being quite butts! Even my husband noticed. As we were walking to the car Jay says "who the heck is the bald guy that is so stuck on himself? Does he ever shut up or does he spend all of his time telling everyone how much better he is than they are?".....And you wonder why they call him the "anti-Kathy"!

Emily, Hannah, Tabby and Sophie came back about 2/3 of the way through the fireworks because Sophie was freaking out! I am hoping she doesn't end up being as afraid of them as Cade is (the poor kid trembles at the mere mention of them!). He did great hanging at the Ridiman's with the music turned up to block out the sound!

The picture is of Sophie and Shelby hanging out and eating at the party. It is so cute to watch their friendship continue to blossom, they really are best buds!

We ended up leaving too soon. We got stuck in gridlocked traffic. We should have waited until closer to midnight. Ironically as I sat in the traffic, all I could think about was what it must be like fleeing a hurricane and sitting on the evacuation routes. I got frustrated because nothing was moving, but I wasn't fleeing impending disaster!

Katrina

I just can't put my mind around it. The pictures are unbelievable and I say this as I watch from my cozy house, far away from the destruction (well, unless you count the effect on the gas pumps). I have seen flooding firsthand; I have seen the aftermath of tornados firsthand. I have NEVER seen anything like this.

I spend last night watching the news programs. All those displaced families. I have to wonder, would I have been one of those who packed up and left or would I have thought it was OK to stay and ride out the storm. Where would I be with my 8 children? I have to think we would have left, but would the van have made it? Would we have had the money to put gas into it, on a good day it gets 12 miles to the gallon, how long could I have sat in traffic before the tank would have been empty? Would we have even made it out of the danger zone? If we made it out, would we have had the money for a hotel? Or would we have been among those with no place to go.

What got to me the most was a small segment on a national news program last night. They went into the only still functioning hospital in the hardest hit area. The hospital had evacuated everyone that they could, but the couldn't get the babies in NICU out. They were too fragile, too dependant on technology to keep them alive. They made all the parents leave, only essential personel stayed behind. They talked about how if/when the generators fail and the batteries run out they will have to manual ventilate the babies to keep them alive. They will have to do this at the exact rate that the machine was doing it. They have plastic draped over the isolettes to keep the water from pouring in on the babies. The one doctor commented the only upside is that with no air conditioning, the babies are staying warm.

As a mom who has had 3 babies spend a good portion of their first month of their lives in NICU, I broke into tears. Would I have been able to leave my baby behind? Would I have had to, in order to get my other children to safety? What would I have done, my boobs aching, filled with milk I couldn't get to my baby? Tears stream down my checks at the thought.

I wonder about my dad. How long would he make it without dialysis? They talked this morning on the news of patients who haven't been dialysized since early this week. They say many will die in the next few days. By now dad would have missed two sessions.

I feel helpless. Prayer is my only refuge.

Exciting news from one of our friends!

I just got off the phone with our favorite Hamilton County Park Naturalist, Trina Stitak. She shared some very exciting news with me.

She is leaving the park district on September 18, 2005 to go on a sabbatical in Canada....check out where she is going...
http://www.madonnahouse.org/... she said she will be there anywhere from 2 months to a year (or longer) depending on where her relationship with God leads her.....

Trina was the first naturalist to do the "infamous" park programs for our homeschooling group. The first time we set one up, she told us that we had to have 10 kids. My friend Valerie and I were scrambling, trying to figure out if we could count our toddlers and infants towards the total. Over the past 4 years the program has grown to the point that we now need to schedule two back to back programs to accomodate our group!

She said she would LOVE for the kids to write her and the adults are welcome to write her too (as long as we don't ask her is she is becoming a nun or getting married...lol...she said she wants no "deep questions"). She said she will try to make sure to write back to them in a timely fashion...

She is going with a few clothes and some notebooks....that is it!

I'd love the kids to do something for her before she leaves (she kept telling me how important the scrapbook we did a few years ago for her is to her..one of the few things she is keeping).....any ideas?

It could have been my kid.....

Yesterday afternoon we got an email from Jacob's football coach, letting us know that the sister of one of the LYF players and daughter of one of the coaches was invovled in a very serious car accident over the weekend. Amber, 12, was life flighted to Children's Hospital and had to undergo 4 hours of surgery to create a hole in her skull to relieve the pressure from her swelling brain. Apparently there is damage to her vision. She is sedated and on a ventilator. The poor child! The poor family! She was riding in a car with friends that turned in front of an SUV at the intersection just blocks from our house. It appears all the kids in the car where relatively young (16 and under) and the accident it seems, most likely, a result of a young driver...it breaks my heart...The kids had a moment of silence last night at practice. You can check out the article on the accident here http://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/4906725/detail.html

It could have been my child, riding with a friend.....We are very picky about who our children can ride with. Brett has one friend that he is permitted to ride in a car with, Hannah has none. Fortunately most of their other friends, even though they are of drving age, haven't gotten their license yet, although their friend Sarah now has her temps. Brett has a couple of friends who are on the verge of getting their temps. I already know 2 he will never be permitted to ride in a car with! Teens seem to think they are invincible!

In 8 months Brett gets his temps and I am scared to death. And only 9 months after he can get his license, Hannah will be able to get hers. I have a sneaky feeling that all those sleepless nights I spent with them as babies will be nothing compared to the sleepless nights I spend when they are driving!

Jacob's football team

Jacob is in the 3rd row, number 77! He is the third biggest player on the team...of course the two boys that are bigger than he is both weigh significantly more than he does....AJ is about 85 pounds and Trevor just makes weight coming in right under 95 pounds. Jacob is slightly built...he is only about 60 pounds!

Jacob's team is doing well. Both games they have played ended in ties. This past weekend the team they tied with (6-6) had never been scored on in the last 2 seasons. I think we are in store for an exciting season!

Jacob's schedule:
Sat. 9-10 1:45 PM vs. Lakota @ Loveland
Sat. 9-17 12:30 PM vs. Mason @ Mason
Sat. 9-24 3:00 PM vs. Lakota @ Lakota
Sat. 10-1 12:30 PM vs. Milford @ Loveland
Sat. 10-8 12:30 PM vs. Kings @ Kings
Sat. 10-15 TBA vs. Monroe Hornets

Grant's Football team picture

Grant is near the middle of the second row. He is number 81.

His team has played 2 games so far. They have just stomped all over both teams they have played.

Here is the schedule for the regular season:
Game 1 1:45pm Sun. Sept. 11 Lakota 12 @ Loveland 2
Game 2 4:15pm Sat. Sept. 17 Mason 2 @ Loveland 2
Game 3 12:30pm Sun. Sept. 25 Loveland 2 @ Lakota 17
Game 4 12:30pm Sun. Oct. 2 Loveland 2 @ Little Miami
Game 5 6:45pm Sun. Oct. 9 Loveland 2 @ Anderson
Game 6 4:15pm Sat. Oct. 15 Mason 2 @ Loveland 2

The pictures are back and I just had to share them.

Apparently a small child (I am thinking it was Cade or Jacob) left the jar of peanut butter out on the little picnic table in the kitchen without the lid being secured on it. Will, the adventurous creature that he is, decided that it was an invitation to play in the peanut butter! I should have known when he was quiet for so long, that he was up to something!



All I could do was laugh and tell Hannah to go and get me the camera and yell to Emily to go and get a bathtowel and washcloth to clean him up! He had peanut butter everywhere on himself, even in his ears! He also managed to redecorate the wall and carpet with it. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get peanut butter out of berber carpet?

Photos from our fieldtrip to the Licking River!

Here is a picture of Emily and Sophie in the Licking River. Check out our photo album at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mrsmomof6/album?.dir=c415&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mrsmomof6/my_photos

to see all of our pictures from our exciting outing!

Here is a picute of Emily and her friend Alison with two of their counselors when they were at Camp Kern from July 11 to July 16. Alison ended up running a fever and having to go home on Thursday, so Emily had to go "solo" for the remainder of the week!

Football

Football season is officially upon us, well at least the preseason is!

Grant had his first game yesterday afternoon. The start was delayed for about 15 minutes because of the bad storms that blew through, but fortunately the storms cleared quickly and we got to watch the game in a bit "cooler" much less sticky air than we had experienced earlier in the day! Grant's team beat the team from Sycamore by a score of 24 to 6!

Jacob's team played their first game today. On the opening drive, the opposing team (Kings) drove in for a touchdown on their first possession, but thanks to Jacob being blocked in the back by a Kings player, the touchdown was called back! Then later in the game, Jacob recovered a fumble! The game ended in a 0 to 0 tie, but that is far better than a loss! Jacob actually seems to be more aware of what is going on this year, moving quickly (well, quick by his standards) in the direction of the play, rather than just standing around and watching! My mom and dad even made it out to watch the game, despite the heat!

Jacob's team even has a blog. The coach hopes to post pictures soon! http://tigerfootball.blogspot.com/

Friday, August 19; 1:30pm
Creeking Adventure
Moreland’s Bend in Butler (10 minutes south of Alexandria, KY)
FREE
Organizer: Susan F.

All the recent dry weather has created some of the best conditions in several years for exploring creeks and river areas. Vikki Rawe, with the KY Board of Fish and Wildlife, will lead a fun learning adventure on the creek. Vikki likes to invite children to explore the waters, the life in the water, and to discover the joy, cleanliness, and respect for this aspect of nature.

This cool activity will begin around 1:30. It is best suited for ages 8 and over, though younger ones will be accommodated.

Susan wrote: We will meet at the Flour Creek Church parking lot at 1:20 pm Friday, and leave there at 1:30. The creek area is about ¼ mile away. We will carpool to the drop off area, then hike the few hundred yards to the creek. Moreland’s Bend is at a riffle in the creek, with the area above it ankle to knee deep on a grownup; and the area below fairly deep. Flour Creek Church is on US 27, go south, past Alexandria to Butler, KY, and turn left at Lock Road Here is the address, and phone number: (859) 472-2130 1109 Ky Highway 177 E Butler, KY 41006

What to bring: net for catching creek creatures, magnifying glass (optional),sunscreen, Change of clothes, Towel, Water bottle,Snacks (people get hungry on creek adventures!),Life jackets if you have some

Please note:
For those with little ones, strollers can be carried to the area; there is a large flat rock area that they can set on.

It will be important to keep a close eye on young children and those who aren’t swimmers. We will need some parents of younger children to specifically watch out for them.

The program will include catching and identifying creek life, and discussing how this helps to rate the health of the creek. Also, we will learn about mussels, and endangered animal. (Here is a link to a relevant recent article in the Cincinnati Enquirer http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050813/NEWS0103/508130393/-1/back01 )

The program is planned until 3:30. There will be time to hang around and swim or float along and enjoy the creek for awhile.

It is NOT recommended to carry little ones in carriers or in arms into the water. It gets slippery and people do fall.

Also…NO flip flops…it would be best to wear water shoes or old gym shoes, but feet need to be covered

Please call (*******) or e-mail with any other questions. I usually do not check e-mails on Friday, so call on the phone if you haven’t e-mailed by Thurs night. Thanks! See you Friday, Susan

Well, it only took us about an hour to get there (thanks to me not trusting mapquest and believing the directions the organizer sent me which she had pasted off the website...it obviously didn't know that the new quarry now stood in the way) but we got there in the nick of time! Vikki, from KY Fish and Wildlife did a WONDERFUL job presenting the info to the group and the kids absolutely LOVED wading in the river searching for mussels and other critters. We were fortunate enough to also be joined by another KY employee, Mark, who only added to the depth of the program. One of the girls found a baby queen snake, it was such a cutie! We found lots of critters that indicated that the river was very healthy and therefore safe to play and swim in. Vikki gaves us handouts that indicated what types of critters we should find in a healthy river, the kids and I can't wait to go down and see how healthy our local river is using the handout.

We were thrilled that the Ridimans made it to the program (they followed the same directions I did and also got "detoured"). You could really see the love of the river in David's face and you could also tell that he shares his enthusiam with his girls. Tabby found an elusive water penny and Mandy found a rare mussel (while searching with Vikki).

The kids caught crayfish and Cade found a bunch of Asiatic clam shells. He was thrilled with them. I was glad I had heeded the advise of the coordinator and didn't bring Will, it was quite slick and steep getting in and out of the river. Sophie LOVED being in the water.

I can't wait to get my pictures back. I will try to remember to post them. I know Kas took a bunch of pictures, I will go and steal...err...I mean borrow them off her blog once she posts them!

During the long drive Emily and Grant and I played the alphabet game, looking for words that started with each letter of the alpahbet....Q was a toughie, until we passed the QUARRY and then we got stuck on X until we made it back to Ohio and saw a XAVIER window sticker....Grant and I found the Z just blocks from the house thanks to a ZICKA sign near the new subdivision up the road!

You Think A. Gallon Of Gas Is Expensive?

The other day when I was out running errands, it was unbelievable that I was excited to see gas for $2.54 a gallon, much cheaper than the $2.69 it was closer to my house. Then yesterday, when I was cleaning out my email box, I came across this email from just over 3 years ago. It made me laugh, so I though I would share it! Makes one think, and puts things in perspective.

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ......... $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ....... $9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ............. $10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 ......... $10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ........... $33.60 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 ......... $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 .......... $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ............... $25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 ................. $84.48 per gallon

and this is the REAL KICKER......
Evian water 9 oz for $1.49 ........ $21.19 per gallon.
$21.19 FOR WATER! ....and the buyers don't even know the source.

So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on bottled water, Scope, or Whiteout, or God forbid, PEPTO BISMOL or NYQUIL!!!! Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump...........!

Just wait til you see the pictures!

I am on the old computer, the newer one (which is almost 3 years old) is in the shop, so I can't upload pictures, but I just had to share...

I should have known Will was into something because he wasn't in here clinging to my leg while I read my emails...well, I opened the office door and was assaulted by the smell of peanut butter. There in the hallway was Will, covered head to toe in peanut butter. I had noticed the jar on the picnic table earlier, but forgot to put it away! He had it everywhere, on himself, the carpet, the walls! I had Hannah run and grab the camera and snapped a few pictures...after all the damage was done. Em gave him a bath while I tried to steam the mess out of the carpet. It was certainly easier to get it off the walls, kitchen floor and picnic table (where his adventure began) than it was to get it out of the cheap berber carpet. The hall smells like peanut butter...I think it is all out of the carpet, but will have to wait for it to dry a bit and then try cleaning it again!

Days like this......

Occassionally there is a day when I feel that by having so many children I am cheating them out of something! This morning the boys (Grant and Jacob) needed to be up at the football fields to have pictures taken and for scrimmages. I got the chore of running to the picture location and then running between two different fields (at two different parks, at least they were only a few blocks apart). Jay was to take Emily up to dance, go and run some errands, and then go back and get her. Somehow I forgot to convey to him that he needed to return 15 mintues early to watch the routine she had been working on in her ballet intensive class. Apparently she was in tears because no one from her family was there to watch her! Jay said she cried the whole way home. Of course, I could try to put some of the blame on her, she should have reminded him when he dropped her off, but I really feel bad about the whole thing!

To add to my feelings of inadequacy, when I walked in the door from football, Hannah looks at me and says "did you ever go pick up a gift for Chrishauna? Her mom is supposed to be here soon to pick me up for the birthday party". DAMN.....I knew I forgot something.....I started to just put money in a card, when I was literally saved by the bell (or shall I say ring of the phone). Chrishauna's mom called and said she would be at least another hour....so Hannah and I hightailed it up to Kohl's and found a cute shirt, t-shirt and flipflops all marked down on clearance! Hopefully Chrishauna will like them!

I spend over an hour on the phone with my mom. I finally told her that I felt we should contact hospice (on the advice of my new friend from football) and after she cried, she actually agreed and said she would call them and at least hear what they could offer. No commitment to actually accept the help, but at least she is willing to get the information. Dad apparently had a really rough week and she is at the end of her rope. It looks like there is a possiblity for him to attend adult daycare 2 days a week, so that just leaves 3 days to be covered! I missed getting to kiss Hannah goodbye because I was on the phone dealing with mom.

Hannah called later and she got to the birthday party safe and sound and Emily up to the dance studio for a special overnight for the girls that took ballet intensive. Sophie is asleep. The boys are all playing, including William. You know I wouldn't trade any of them for anything!

Boy that was quick!

I couldn't believe it when in today's mail I found our official excusal from compulsory attendance letter. I just turned in our letter on the 9th! So now I just have to decide how long it to wait before approaching the district about accessing my own children. Now if that would just go off without a hitch!

Perseid Meteor Shower

Circle this date: Friday, August 12th. Next to the circle write "before sunrise" and "Meteors!"

From spaceweather.com website: The Perseid meteor shower is underway. The shower's broad peak extends from August 11th through 13th--but August 12th is best. If you get away from bright city lights and watch the sky between local midnight and dawn on Friday morning, August 12th, you can expect to see dozens to hundreds of meteors. Check out the full story: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22jul_perseids2005.htm

From CNN.com website: The Perseid meteor shower, an event that comes around every August in the late-night sky, is upon us again. Lasting for more than a week, the celestial show is forecast to peak on August 12, when astronomers say meteors should streak through the dark every two minutes or so.

That's not as bright a display as in years past -- the quarter moon may be too brilliant for some meteors to stand out, astronomers caution -- but that doesn't mean stargazers will be wasting their time.
"That's still a wonderful meteor shower and I recommend trying to see it," said George Lebo, an astronomy professor who is a visiting faculty member this summer at the NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
August 12 should be the zero hour for best watching, Lebo said in a news release from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "No matter where you live, the best time to watch will between local midnight and dawn."

The Perseids, which have varied in intensity and frequency over the years, are bits of space dust that enter the Earth's atmosphere at 132,000 mph, creating eye-popping streaks of light in the night sky.
They originate from the tail of the comet Swift-Tuttle, a heavenly visitor that hurtles past our sun every 135 years, leaving a new trail of debris in its wake. The Earth, revolving around the sun, routinely approaches the celestial flotsam and jetsam every July. Astronomers note an increase in meteor activity almost immediately.

Crossing my fingers that the RAIN and THUNDER pass quickly and the skys clear so we can go out and watch the meteor shower!

Planning meeting

Last night about 20 moms from the homeschooling group we are most active in had their annual planning meeting. It is unreal to look at the calendar and realize that there isn't one week without an activity. I think I will probably just shove the calendar in the face of anyone who dares to ask me about socialization.....yes, socialization is a problem for us....we spend way too much time doing it!

Some really cool activities are on the calendar....a Napoleon Dynamite party, teen halloween party, roller skating, bowling, all the park programs! We will be celebrating Chinese New Year, St. Patrick's Day, Madri Gras and Cinco de Mayo with special group gatherings that will include FOOD! There are going to be a couple opportunities for the horselovers in the group...a trip to a local racetrack and to the Kentucky Horse Park. And let me not forget our quilting club and altered book club!

There is a chance Hannah might get to take some classes in "cosmotology", learning from one of the mom's how to cut, color and perm hair. I even volunteered my hair for the "perm" class! I really hope the class is offered on a night that Hannah can attend!

I also tossed out the idea of a geography and biography fair. There seems to be enough interest, so now I just have to go about securing a location and getting the details out to everyone. For the biography fair, each child picks anyone, living or dead, and does a presentation about their life. The child choses how to present the information. The geography fair we would pass out passports and each participant could chose a stamp or sticker for the passport that would represent their country...people get passports stamped as they visit each country/display. Participants would prepare a display, write a report or
give an oral presentation ,maybe prepare representative foods or possibly a craft, the possibilities are endless. They would use resources like postal stamps, Currency, Embassy packages, Flags, Costumes and Folktales. The great thing about these two opportunities is that any age child can particpate and present their research to the best of their abilities. No competing!

To add to the excitement, I have been working with my friend Roberta (aka Granny) on developing a program in her gardens for homeschooling families. We are still working out the details, but it is really coming together. We firmed up the meeting dates, Fall: Sept 14, Sept 28, Oct 12, Oct 26 and Spring: Mar 22, Apr 5, Apr 19, May 3, May 17, May 31 and the time 1 PM to 3 PM and I think the price is right (cost will be $10 per child for the entire program), now I just have to come up with a description and "market" it to our homeschooling friends. Each week will include garden time and a garden related craft. The kids are even going to get their own garden plots!

Speaking of "marketing" Granny has offered the kids the opportunity of running their own business selling the produce they grow. So not only are we getting a gardening program, but also a lesson in economics, marketing and practical business experience. Of course it will be next summer before they have produce to sell, but the whole idea is appealling to my teens!

I am so excited about the upcoming "school" year!

Patty Cake, Patty Cake Baker's Man!

Here are two of the pictures for Will's 13 month photo session. He really loved playing with the fake apples! I was surprised that he left the hat on his head!

One of his favorite things to do at home it to completely empty the drawers and to take things out of the cabinets onto the kitchen floor. He is the first of my kids to ever do this. Isn't it funny that baby #8 could do something "new"?

Will now prefers to walk over crawling. He is pretty steady on his feet and is even starting to run! He is still so small that it looks funny when you see him toddling about.

Notification turned in!

Yesterday (Tuesday August 9) I drove over to the Board of Education and turned in our annual notification. I got a reciept from the woman who took our notification with the date on it, so the school district has 14 days to send us our excusal or to question our notification. So the waiting game begins! It is our first time notifying in our new school district, so I am hoping things go off without a hitch. We have never had problems in the past, so hopefully our streak continues.

Below is a copy of what I attach for each child as their "brief" outline and list of teaching materials. I change it slightly for each child (obviously the boys aren't in girlscouts and don't take dance classes and the girls don't play football and baseball). I believe that minimal complicance with the laws governing home education is in the best interest of the entire homeschooling community. I turn in notification for the kids that are over the age 6....so Jacob, Grant, Emily, Hannah, and Brett.

Information for Hannah Riesenberg
6. BRIEF OUTLINE OF INTENDED CURRICULUM FOR THE 2005-'06 SCHOOL YEAR:
As we embark on our fifth year of homeschooling, we plan to continue with the methods we found work the most efficiently for our family the past four years. We feel that we have made the necessary assurances for sections #5 and #8 that our home education will include the required areas and hours.

We will strive to have a curriculum that is interest driven; that is, based on the interests of our children. With our gentle guidance our children will choose what, when, and in what manner they will learn. We want them to be active participants in their learning, not passive receivers. It is our belief that through this process our children's self-esteem will be preserved, they will value learning, and they will be empowered to make decisions that are best for themselves throughout their lives.
We believe that the most developmentally appropriate curriculum for them is one based on their interests and needs. We feel we need to be flexible enough to change as they change. Because children do not naturally divide the world into subject areas (language, math, art, etc.), our curriculum will be inherently integrated. Our children may pursue their interests as in-depth as they desire and for as long as they remain interested (hours to months). We find that one interest will lead naturally to another or that many cohesive interests may be pursued simultaneously. We will encourage them to set goals and follow them.

Just as we have done in the past, when it is time for us to assess our children at the end of the year, we plan to collect our many journals, scrapbooks, photographs and projects to show all the interesting things we have discovered and the skills we have acquired in the process. We will reflect on what worked well and decide what things we may want to change for the future. This is our course of study. It is an after-the-fact curriculum.

7. LIST OF BASIC TEACHING MATERIALS:
Large personal library
Family video collection
Reference books (encyclopedias, thesaurus, dictionaries, atlases)Reference materials (textbooks, field guides, grammar books, timelines, globe, maps, etc.)
NewspapersMagazine subscriptions for both children and adults
Games (board games, cards, outdoor games, travel games)
Calculating and measuring tools (including rulers, calculators, calendars and watches)
Basic office supplies
Savings accounts
Art and craft supplies
A variety of musical recordings
Audiovisual equipment (VCR, DVD player, cameras, stereo, cassette players, CD players)
Manipulatives (blocks, legos, etc.)
Child and adult sized gardening tools
Home maintenance equipment
Sewing machine, fabric, patterns, thread
Community resources (such as community centers, museums, parks, festivals,stage performances, sports programs)
Parish resources
The extensive collection of the Clermont, Hamilton and Kenton County Libraries via library cards for each child
2 computers and over 20 educational computer programs
On-line services and the vast resources of the Internet
Regular dance classes
Pen pals
Scouting involvement (Girl Scouts Great River Council)
4-H involvement
Granny's Garden School
Travel throughout Ohio and surrounding states.
Family membership to Cincinnati Museum Center, Newport Aquarium, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and Cincinnati Zoo and reciprocating establishments
Park Programs sponsered by Clermont, Hamilton and Kenton County Parks
YMCA membership
The community of homeschoolers (support groups, e-mail lists, field trips and other gatherings)
Found items, nature, used book sales, and the knowledge and wisdom of generations past.

We won!

Today we received a phone calling saying we had won 5 tickets to Kings Island from an entry we filled out at the county fair! The kids are really excited...now to just figure out who gets to go!

Spanish

This really wonderful link came through one of the homeschooling lists that I am on http://www.spanishprograms.com/learn_spanish.htm that offers free spanish lessons! I am so eager to get NEW SPEAKERS for this darn archaic computer to I can listen to what is being said.

I have come to the conclusion, like it or not, that Spanish is going to be as important to my children as a good grasp of the Emglish language. The Hispanic population in our area keeps growing and in other cities that we have visited, I notice the influx of Spanish speaking families. I figure it is a language that will serve them well! My brother is a police officer and says Spanish is a must in his profession. A friend who works as an OB nurse says it is also a must for her.

A group of our homeschooling friends is trying to get together a weekly Spanish class. Something laid back, that involves games and songs. I really hope that it is offered at a time that we can attend.

We found a really fun workbook at Sam's. The only problem is that we know what the words look like, but not proper pronunciation! I took Latin in highschool and Jay can't seem to remember any of the Spanish he studied (or didn't study might be a more accurate way to put it!).

Some of the local libraries also over bilingual storytime. I am hoping the library near our home will offer this opportunity this year. I need to check into it the next time I go and visit.

Dad home, but not doing well

They sent Dad home from the hospital. He isn't doing too well. Mom said he is really hallicinating and also complaining about buzzing in his ears. She is going to talk with his doctor on Monday to see if any of the meds could be to blame. He was restless during dyalisis yesterday, not a good thing, since it makes it take longer.

She really wants to go back to work on August 15th. She needs to go back to keep their benefits in place and to support their standard of living (much higher than most). I know her going back to work will mean my life spiraling more out of control. I just hope we can hold it all together. All she does is cry or yell at me when I call.

The ray of hope is that I met a mom(Glenda) on Jacob's football team that is a public health nurse who happened to go through something almost identical 2 years ago with her own father (although her dad had liver cancer not multiple myeloma). She is going to bring me some resource information. Hopefully mom will be willing to accept the help that is out there!

State Fair!

We were so excited that Emily got to take her work to the State Fair for the Clock judging. We left early and got up there in plenty of time. Unfortunately the darn stroller, which had served us well for the last 3 1/2 years, fell apart in the parking lot! I carried Sophie and we managed to get Emily checked in. It was unbelievable how gorgeous and creative some of the entries were! Emily went through the testing (to see how knowledgable she was about the topic) and judging. Although she scored very well, she wasn't picked in the top 4! She was really disappointed, but we kept reminding her that she was the best in her county and that there was nothing to be ashamed of! Her picture is gorgeous and I couldn't wait to get it home and hang it up (it is now proudly displayed in our dining room!). Hannah and I made notes and wrote down some projects we really want to look into for this upcoming year (like designing interiors) because the things the kids brought in to be judged were just so neat! We also saw a gorgeous quilt a girl made using homespun flannel and we are definitely going to try to find some of that fabric to work with this year!

We decided to walk around the fair...after all we had paid $5 to park, $4 to get in (thanks to it being 1/2 price day) and probably used $20 in gas to get there! We had to rent a stroller for Sophie since she would not walk (another $7 down the drain). It was in the mid 90's and the sun was brutal!

We meandered around the fair and bought a $10 lemonade...yes you read that right....$10 for a LARGE lemonade...OK it was 1/2 gallon, but it was ONE FLIPPING LEMON in some water...it SUCKED! At least we had the container to refill with water!

We went into one of the expo buildings and Hannah, Em and Sophie were THRILLED with all the free junk they got. The best of our freebies was over 200 FREE postcards which we can use to send to our penpals! We ended up buying a mop (one of those AS SEEN ON TV ones...ended up getting one free) and a couple of pop up laundry baskets. We had so much stuff that we couldn't fit it in the basket on the back of the stroller....I won't need to buy a coloring book for at least a year!

Before we left we went to see the butter sculture! It was a cow, calf, little girl and a HUGE icecream cone sculpted completely from butter....2000 pounds of it to be exact! It was really COOL!

We opted to wait and get lunch at Cracker Barrel on the way home. We figured we knew the food would be good and it was MUCH CHEAPER than eating the crappy food at the fair!

Hopefully one of the kids will make State Fair next year with 4-H! Next year I will put the good stroller and a wagon in the trunk!

Art

The girls really embrace any art project you throw at them, of course Emily winning first place at the county fair for her artwork probably is evidence of such enthusiasm.

Yesterday we were at a yardsale and found three beat up old chairs. They were only $1 each, so the girls asked if they could get them and paint them. They even convinced their dad to go out and buy primer for them yesterday. They have been working on them off and on since then...I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Ironicially, over the past two days I have received through some of my email contacts, links to some great art sites. I spent about and hour today going through and compiling the details for some I would like to try. It is a pretty eclectic list, but I think the kids will have fun exploring the projects. You never know, if I get ambitious, I might even invite some of their friends over to explore the projects with us! For the most part, they use inexpensive supplies, most of which I already have laying around in the craft closet!

Here are a couple of the websites that I particularly liked ideas from:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/Linda-Carle.htm

http://www.theteachersguide.com/Artlessonplans.html

http://www.teachartathome.com/stainedglassflowers.html

I just love that their are so many fun ways to help the kids enjoy art and learn at the same time. Nothing to me is more boring than just looking at a picture, but the idea of exploring a technique with a little history tossed in really appeals to me! Of course I have always been drawn to the art of Jackson Pollock!

I can't wait to see what direction these ideas lead us in. Maybe Emily will have something spectacular for the fair next year, or maybe one of her siblings will give her a run for her money!

Dad is back in the hospital

My dad was transported back to the hospital via ambulance. He got up from his nap and was complaining of severe numbness in his left arm and leg and he was drooling. Mom thought he had another stroke, but they did a CT when he got to the hospital and they don't think it was a stroke. Possibly it was a bad reaction to some of his medication. He is running a fever, so they are keeping him for observation. Prayers would be much appreciated!

Tea Party

Emily decided that she wanted to have a tea party for her birthday and that she also wanted to have a slumber party. We ended up postponing it a few weeks from her birthday because she was at camp the week of her birthday and we had baseball games last weekend! Finally we decided on July 29th! We combined the ideas and had a "celebrity" tea slumber party! We asked that the girls come glammed out in their hollywood best (boas, glitter, etc). When they got here, we had everyone decorate straw hats to wear to the tea!

Before we had our tea we went over some tea party etiquette (check it out http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/etiquette.html) and then we served tea, tea sandwiches, muffins, veggies, fruit, hummus and pink lemonade. The girls had a BLAST! It was funny to watch and listen to them as they tried to behave like proper young ladies! One of the girls, Amanda, really took to Sophie and kept making sure she was included and had enough food to eat and tea to drink, it was so cute!

Following tea, they played a few party games and opened presents. Then the girls made picture frames. We sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Emily and had cake. Following cake, the girls played more games. Two of the girls couldn't spend the night, one was picked up at 10 PM and the other closer to 11 PM, so we only had 4 extras stay the night (taking the household count to 14!). The girls were giggly and silly and had a dance off and then watched some movies! I finally yelled upstairs at 4 AM that is was FINE if they stayed up, but could they PLEASE use inside voices!

The girls were still asleep when the moms started to arrive to pick them up at 10:40 AM! At least they got about 5 hours of sleep! Most of them grabbed donuts as they headed home!

Emily was so THRILLED with the party! It is so neat as they get older and take ownership in planning things. I heard Em and Hannah talking about "next year" already!

OK I am a bit behind reading the comments left for my posts....my pal Lea tagged me with the following questions on 7-14....OK only took me 10 days to read the comment....

Q: What is your favorite night-time snack? My favorite treat is one of those shaved iced snocone things....preferably with some sickeningly sweet flavored topping. If you mean something I could grab out of the cabinet it would be chips and salsa/cheese.


Q: If you could choose 3 comfort items to take with you for a year on a desert island, what would they be? Q: Why did you choose each item? Comfort items would be one of my grandmother's handmade quilts (I can feel the warmth and love when I am wrapped up in it), a journal with pen (for putting my thoughts down on paper...heck with a year to myself I might just compose that book I have always wanted to write), and an endless supply of fresh brewed sweetened ice tea (do I really need to explain this ...I am gonna be on a HOT island and I will be THRISTY!). And although you didn't ask, you must know that I would have to have a RAZOR with my because I can't stand HAIRY ARMPITS! but I don't see the razor as a "comfort thing" it is a necessity!

Q: What is your first memory? Helping my brother (who is 3 years younger than me) chip his front tooth out on the slide in our backyard. Wonderful big sister that I am, I tried to push him up the ladder and he cracked his mouth on the top step! That or him throwing my favorite babydoll (named Baby) into the tile glue when my parents where finishing the attic in our house and ruining her hair...they both happened about the same time! My mom had to use a razor knife to cut the glue off Baby's head!

Here is one of Emily's pictures from her portrait session on her birthday! It is hard to believe how grown up she is starting to look!

I have always called Emily "brown bear" as a nickname because she gets so tan, even through SPF 30! Our native american heritage is apparent in her coloring and her facial structure. She is a BEAUTIFUL child but she carries herself in such a way that it isn't "obvious" that she knows it. She is taken aback whenever anyone comments on how pretty she is!

So there is the FIRST PLACE WINNING girl! I am so proud of her...and it has nothing to do with her being first place! It is her gentle nature, her loving spirit, her sense of fairness...there are so many things that make me proud of this beautiful child of mine!

County Fair Awards Ceremony
Saturday July 23 7 PM
Clermont County Fairgrounds

I think I posted earlier about taking the kids out for the 4-H judging. Well last weekend we got letters in the mail for Grant and Hannah saying they were invited to the awards banquet, meaning their projects had finished in the top 5 in their catagory. I thought it was really weird Emily didn't get a letter, she had entered the same catagory as Grant and her work was far superior (Em is an artist through and through). She was really disappointed, I even checked with our advisor thinking her notice must have been lost in the mail or something, especially given the fact that we had moved and the letters had been forwarded. Despite the fact that she wasn't getting an award, I insisted that she go to the ceremony to support her brother and sister, even when she was invited to spent the night at her friend Ali's house.

We got to the fairgrounds and it was UTTER CHAOS! I dropped the kids + a family friend off at the building they were using for awards adn went and parked the monster van in the closest spot I could find. By the time I got back, the kids were registered and we were scrambling to find seats. Hannah came walking up to me and I noticed she had 2 numbers on her tag, indicating she had won in 2 different catagories....WAIT A MINUTE...she only entered ONE project! The light goes on, and I realize that maybe EMILY REALLY DID WIN! I rush around, trying to find someone in charge to confirm my suspicions! Turns out that they mistakenly used Hannah's scoresheet to score Emily's project! Hannah is so excited she RUNS and gets Emily and drags her over to the winner's area!

If it wasn't enough that she actually won....turns out she took FIRST PLACE and qualifies to take her project to the STATE FAIR to be judged! Grant finished 3rd in their catagory and Hannah came in 2nd in hers! Pretty great for our first 4-H/county fair experience! The kids are really pumped up about completing MORE projects for next year's fair!

Em gets to go to State Fair on August 4th! If your the praying type, say a little prayer that she does well!

Football, football, football!

Apparently we missed football camp, but we were fortunately still able to sign Grant and Jacob up for football. This organization looks phenomenal and the boys are REALLY excited! Of course it isn't going to be as "easy" as last year. The boys don't practice at the exact same times, but the field is less than 2 miles from here!

For Grant: Mon., Tues and Fri. 6:30pm to 8:00pm and Saturdays 9:00am to 11:00am

For Jacob: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur (6:30 – 8:30) until school starts, and M, T, TH (6:30 – 8:00) after school begins!

Think maybe I should pitch a tent at the fields???

The fun begins on Monday July 25th!

GTC Bakehouse Tour
Tuesday, July 19 at 11 AM.

The GTC Bakehouse will give a tour of their bakery for young homeschoolers on Tuesday, July 19 at 11 AM. Come see how really good bread is made! This is an artisanal bakery, not a bread manufacturing plant, but younger people will still need close supervision around industrial-size mixers and hot ovens. They are on Montgomery Road north of Reagan Highway. The bakery and retail store are in the same place, so you can buy bread to takehome if you like.

To break up the lazy days of summer, we decided to join the younger homeschoolers on the bakery tour. The people who worked at the bakery were a very interesting and eclectic group (think pink hair, green hair, extensive body art and piercings). One of the employees even had her tiny daughter (and absolutely cutie!) there with her! What a cool and accepting enviroment to work in! They gave us a great tour. It was amazing the number of loaves they make by hand each month and the quantity of flour they go through. The girls and I thought it was funny because the flour came from Con Agra foods ...we had been right next to Con Agra's headquarters in Chicago and had no idea what type of products they made...well apparently LARGE bags of wheat flour would be on the list!

At the end of the tour we got to sample bread. Emily, Grant and I were in heaven, we LOVE BREAD! My favorite, cranberry walnut! They gave us a focassia (sp) bread to take home with us. They had made up 12 loaves and there were only 4 families there, so as we were leaving the gal who lead the tour handed my family the extras! Free bread! What more could I ask for!

Following the tour we went to the park for lunch. It was so HUMID we only stayed a short time....eating quickly and then feeding crackers to the ducks!