You Should Not Write When

You are tired & have been drinking. It was a lovely evening. Good night.

Word-full Wednesday

In the blogosphere, many mommy blogs do "Wordless Wednesday." I'm going to buck the trend, because what a day we had.
--(Side note: This made me think of A Good Day by Henke. Go get it. Read it. Your kids will love it.)

I woke up early in an effort to actually start school on time (which, I haven't yet been successful at this week--close, but not technically on time). For me, waking up early apparently only means more opportunity for crap to happen.
We didn't have eggs. We didn't have milk. We did not have fruit. Toast is not a substantial breakfast.
I decided to delay school for a quick trip to the market. It's shopping day anyway. I was hopeful that we'd be home & fed with enough time to start 30 minutes late. Still enough time to get it all done.
Yeah, right.
By the time we were done eating it was 9:40 (school starts at 8:30). I told the kids we'd have to hurry through school, b/c we still had a bunch of schoolwork to do. Owen, my son, the genius, suggests: "Mom, how about we run errands & then do school so we don't have to go fast?" Sounds like a good idea to me.
We book it to the USPS--NO LINES--a miracle, folks. My mood brightens. Next up: the bank--again no lines, and a chipper teller who gets it done fast. Yeah!
Our next stop is to Target. Monday I bought a shirt for Owen only to discover that it has a small tear. I knew it was the only one at the Target in our town, so we went to the next town over--which, was close to the grocery store we needed to go to. Hurrah.
Sadly, they did not have the shirt. They did have this though:

I would like to inform the world that this game is NOT called Farkle. I have been playing it since I was about 3 years old. It's called Greedy. Anyone who grew up in Alaska, going to Bible camp KNOWS this game as Greedy.
The Target dude told me that the other Target, that is 2.98 miles away--so says Google maps, has four of these shirts. So, I head that way, but first I have to stop at the grocery store.
Love this grocery store. I get what I need, but I notice that my list is a bit off. Several items are missing. Hmmmmm...something went terribly wrong apparently with my online planner. (Which means yet another grocery store trip this week...*sigh*)
As I head to the next Target, I call the store in hopes of someone finding the shirt & saving me some time. I dial & get the auto attendant. I push 0. It rings...the auto attendant. I repeat this over & over. I finally hit the button for electronics department button, get a live person who finds another live person who goes to find the shirt. However, by this time--I am in the Target parking lot. The gal says she has found my shirt & brings it to me at the front. NOT THE SAME SHIRT. *face palm* Thanks anyway, Target.
I ring Gramma. She'll bring her fray check & we'll do some creative stitching. (Owen really loves the shirt.) Gramma is awesome.
Home. Lunch. Start school. At 1 p.m. *sigh* We get a bunch done, but the kids are zonked. Nap time is a must--for everyone. We sleep until 4:30. Wonderful. More school--we get the basics done by 6:15 pm. The kids are outside playing (thankful it's still daylight outside), and now I'm getting ready to get dinner done. Then, a game of Farkle Greedy, and we're off to bed.
Best news of the day--Matt finally found a mixer (and a good deal) for the bakery. Yeah! Now his arms won't fall off from literally mixing and kneading everything by hand.
What a day.

Our first day of homeschool 2012-13 happened yesterday. Best part--my husband telling me how proud he was of what (little) we had accomplished. Owen & Eden were eager to start--I really wasn't planning on getting going until September, but when the new books and supplies arrived there was no stopping them. I thought a little post on our homeschooling journey would be appropriate.

For those who are interested, here's our line up:

English
-The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (Wise)
-First Language Lessons (Wise)
-Writing With Ease (Bauer)
-Plaid Phonics (Modern Curriculum Press) Levels K & B
-Spelling Workout (Modern Curriculum Press) Level B

Math
-Math In Focus (HMH) Kindergarten and Grade 2

History & Bible
-Mystery of History
-Creating our own Book of the Centuries timeline
-Bible verse memorization

Science
-NoeoScience (check it out here: http://www.noeoscience.com/)

Art
-Various crafts that align with the themes in our history, literature, and science studies. (I find a lot of art  projects, as well as projects for other subjects on pinterest.)

Music
-piano lessons

PE
-swim lessons

Owen is also attending Access, a homeschool enrichment program, on Fridays. He'll get quite a bit more art, PE, science, music, as well as Spanish on Fridays.
If it wasn't obvious from the line-up, we are following many recommendations from The Well Trained Mind (Wise & Bauer).

Again, for those that are interested--our (very flexible) daily schedule:
8:30-9:40  English
9:50-10:30 Math
10:40-noon History & Bible (MW) Science (T) Art (TH)
Noon Lunch
-wrap up & clean up-
1:30-3:30 Rest
3:30-4 Piano
5 PM Swim (MW)

Why do I say "very flexible?" We just started a bakery. We are busy and tired. That's an understatement. We didn't do Science today. I decided that getting O's resp therapy done (which we forgot yesterday) was more important, as well as getting a good nap done. And you know what? That's okay. That's what is awesome about homeschool.  Making it work for your family's needs. Sometimes our schedule will include a trip to the library, zoo, museum, Menchies--whatever.
We're also schooling year-round. We school 3 weeks and then take a week off. Most of the time. For instance, we started this week, but we already had a camping trip on the agenda for next week. (Of course, camping lends itself to several "homeschooling learning moments." While we won't be doing textbook work, they'll still be learning.)

So, how do I manage two kids of different learning levels, styles, & abilities?
1. Eden can learn along with Owen in almost every subject. In English, we're actually starting at her level. Owen can benefit from the review, and "helps" teach his sister. In writing, where Owen is much more advanced--I give her more simple sentences. She needs my attention to ensure proper technique, where as Owen could copy chapter books for hours on end.
2. During English we have "free reading time." I have a stack of books they can choose from. When I work one-on-one with either kid--the other picks a book, and gets comfy on the sofa for about 15 minutes.
3. Eden needs a few more breaks than Owen. She likes to draw and color, so I have supplies handy. She knows the rule though--quiet at the table. Sometimes she stays with us--sometimes she goes to her room. I also have several supplemental workbooks at her grade level. Easy worksheets that need little assistance from me, and she gets a bit more practice in her various learning areas.
BONUS: My friend gave me a dry-erase board made from--get this--shower surround from Home Depot. Seriously. It totally works better than expensive dry erase boards. Eden loves to write & erase, write & erase.

Okay, so if you've read all of this, obviously you must have some interest in homeschooling. Here's the first thing you should know (given to me from a long-time homeschooling, wise woman):
FIRST GET THEM TO OBEY.
If you have not taught your child HOW to obey, homeschooling is going to be rough. They need & want rules and boundaries. Your authority must be clear. Until you do this, nothing else really matters. You will have to constantly & consistently be establishing this throughout their lives. Obedience. Obedience. Obedience. It's not a one-shot deal. It takes practice.

Moving On

We started a bakery! Check it out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CramersHandmadeBreadCo

Pity

In the last month, we have received numerous phone calls, FB messages, e-mails, and texts from well-meaning friends and "others" to express their sympathy for us. I know that they're intention is to comfort, I guess, but really I'd love for it to stop. No one has died. We're moving on. We're okay.
Yes, we're heartbroken. Yes, it hurts. It's very doubtful that you can even fathom what we feel right now, and even more doubtful that I could begin to explain the depth of pain and emotions. It doesn't matter though, we don't need pity. We're dealing in our own way.
You know what we love? The friends who drop by with food, beer, hugs, flowers. The ones who say--we're totally going out this weekend--prepare yourself. The ones who ask us about our life. (You did know we did other stuff besides this school, right?) The ones who totally get that one second we may be laughing, screaming the next, and then in tears. The ones that don't just say they're there if we need them, they literally are there. The ones who aren't making a big deal out of anything, but simply stand by us.
I am especially thankful for this band of brothers that have taken it upon themselves to stand as protectors. Not literally, but more spiritually. These are true men. In addition to my amazing husband, these men have made me feel safe and protected. They've lifted my husband up, and stood by him. It totally rocks.

Injustice

Last night, in a cruel and calculated effort, I was voted off the LCS school board. Prior to this meeting, and for the last 8 months, the Principal and I had been at odds. Conflict was never resolved despite any effort I put forth to do so.
Each time I spoke out in meetings, in an attempt to hold the Principal accountable for actions he had taken that I believed to be unjust or against policy--I was silenced and then Matt was retaliated on at work until Matt was finally fired.


At last night's board meeting, the board president (and my co-founder of the school) re-instated a 7th board member who had recently resigned (her pastor). Up until this point the board was divided 3/3. By bringing this member on literally the night before, she had the 4 votes necessary to vote me off.


Wednesday night I sent an e-mail to board members calling for a school re-structure or for Mr. Yu's resignation due to his lack of school business leadership. A warped, twisted opinion of that e-mail was spread across the school to staff and parents. Several parents and teachers took the public comment time at the board meeting to go beyond sharing their displeasure, but to viciously attack me. None of these people actually contacted me to learn the truth, I didn't even really know most of them. One referred to me as the "cancer needing to be cut out." It was one of the worst experiences of my life, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.


I offered to meet with board members to address their issues, but it was clear they were out for blood. Two members were vindictive to say the least. Two were too coward to do anything, but what they were told. The remaining two stood by my side.


I am heartbroken, and incredibly sad for LCS. Personally, I am trying to reconcile two years of sacrifice, two years of lost time with my family, with the atrocities that have occurred in less than a month. 

Does Anyone Blog Anymore?

I went through my list of blogs I follow, or rather I should say blogs I followed. Facebook has pretty much taken over, hasn't it? I miss blogging. I miss writing. Don't get me wrong. I love facebook. Though it feeds into our immediate gratification culture, and while I think that's an overused statement--it's true.

So, what's new with the Cramer family? Well, we finally started that school. You know, the one that consumed nearly every minute of every day and still sorta does? That one. It's going okay. The Principal and I do not see eye to eye on much, and there is some major conflict between us. I hate that, and I wish it were different. I just keep praying. This was God's idea, God's work, and I trust God will resolve what needs to be resolved.

We're in a holding pattern right now. Not really sure "what's next." Matt is the Asst. Principal at the school. I am at home with the kids. Yes, kids--plural. We pulled Owen out of LCS to homeschool once again. It is just right for his needs. We're very happy with this decision.

Both kids have been taking swim lessons since last summer and it is fantastic! They both have serious talent for it, but in different ways.

Matt and I had a close call last week. A drunk driver was right behind us, swerved & ran into a tree. It was amazing that he didn't hit us or kill himself. Emergency vehicles responded in seconds--literally. I don't think a full minute had passed before someone arrived. Four fire trucks, 2 ambulances, and several police cars. It was an awesome sight.

I really should blog more. I guess blogging is SO 2010.