First Month of School

 Homeschool Academy

     To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. 

- Thomas Edison

   The 3 youngest kids all take a class called Junk Box Wars at different times with their own age levels.

 

        This class is based on the tv show Junkyard Wars. The kids have individual or group challenges each class. Just a few of their other challenges include throwing a candy cane without it breaking, building tall card houses, making sling shots, creating marble runs, and building "pilgrim houses" that can withstand wind and weight, etc. It's a good interactive/teamwork/social class.

 

 

   This particular day (this pic and ones above) their assigment was to build a contraption that would cushion an egg's fall to keep it intact. There were different rounds/testing variables.

building spaghetti tower another day with his little buddy

House Update

     Although we did like the sunny feel of the breakfast nook with the yellow walls, I couldn't quite get on board with this particular shade of yellow with everything we own. I had to go with my standard gray, much to my sunshine-y daughter's chagrin. I don't think it's as dark as it seems in this pic. I was also happy to hang up all of my (around 30) cute plates. Since we lived in the RV for the year, it's kind of fun to unpack things that you had almost forgotten about.

Friend Fun

     Sis got a day out with a friend at a trampoline/climbing place in Tampa.

Homeschool

     This is the chapter book we are reading together right now. We started reading it several months ago but misplaced it. Now we are back at it. We visited the actual Alamo last year. Aaaaand getting ready for another visit. I recommend this book for a greater understanding of what happened here. There weren't many options for Alamo themed children's books. We all remained engaged in this historical fiction book.

 

     I mentioned in last post that we do our history lessons together. At the end of each lesson, we try to play an online game, Kahoot! This requires me to create questions ahead of time using information from the chapter, as well as pulling questions for review. This is a fun motivation for all of them. We are keeping track of points. I told them the overall winner at the end of the year will receive a special prize. 

     I just noticed that Dash had named himself Mr. Hair Cake during this particular day. (What a fun personality this kid has!) I feel I need to explain this is from a youtube video he showed us one day. I can't even begin to properly explain this video. It's basically these guys who make a cake using all sorts of hair - like shaved off their bodies, etc. They proceed to eat the cake. I literally threw up watching this video. I'm not kidding. (And I don't know why I'm sharing this for anyone in the world to see.) We were sitting on the bed watching it, I started feeling nauseous, I THREW UP and had to run to the bathroom with my hands over my mouth. I'm sure the kids wish they had a video of my reaction to that video.

Travel

     Labor Day Weekend arrived, and we made plans with relatives in Missouri and Texas. We only made a quick one night stop through my home state, and while we were there I took them to a well-loved restaurant (where we can pretty much eat nothing, but they were excited to order drinks, which is a treat for our water-at-restaurants family) at Flat Creek. Two of my childhood friends play in a cover band, and I always enjoy going to their shows. My kids had expressed they wanted to go watch them sometime since they know it's something I do occasionally. They got to meet some of my friends and like I wrote in a previous post, they got to experience a little bit of my small town roots, which is good for my "city kids."

     THESE TWO...are always either picking on each other or having great fun. They're like an old married couple. 23 months apart in age. I'm curious what their relationship will be like when they get older.

     We went to my aunt's house for our annual kickball game with my uncle, cousin (who is my age) and his kids, which was the main purpose for this leg of the trip.

          I love kickball. And we always have a great time getting together with this crew. I try really hard to keep traditions and connections within our nomadic, somewhat untraditional life.

     Next stop on our Labor Day Weekend Extravaganza was a visit to see my college roommate who lives near Dallas. I hadn't seen her in YEARS, probably since the older boys were very little. We had dinner out with her husband and two young sons and spent the night with them. (Ninja always says he is "so shy," but really he is my friendliest, least shy kid.)

     Jen and I lived together for two years in college. She is one of the NICEST, funniest, easiest people I have ever known. I have missed her, for sure; it was so nice to hang out with her and for my kids to see how great she is. They really liked her!

        Another long overdue visit was to our best friends from our early days in Arkansas. The four of us met pre-kids, so we have known them for 20 years. Our kids always attended each others' birthday parties, etc. "growing up." We moved to Florida, and they moved to Texas and somehow five years went by without us seeing each other. I had decided earlier this year that I was not going to let 2018 end without getting together with our long lost pals.
      I was curious how the kids would interact. Ninja didn't even remember them because he was still a baby when we left Arkansas. They all sat in formal awkwardness for the first half hour. By the end of the visit, they were running around playing like no time had passed at all.

     Life is so busy. Life is so hard. I MUST do better about seeing the people who mean the most to us. If only time and money were infinite resources. Spending time with Jen and these kids I had held as babies (and their very cool parents) was good for my soul.

Summer Closes

Summer Camp

     Sis got to attend a cheerleading camp this summer with her new neighbor friends. I think she really enjoyed it. They did floor routines, cheers, and stunts.

Ninja Date

      One day, Little Man and I took Guess Who? to Kaleisia Tea Lounge for drinks, spring rolls, and shared dessert. It's one of our favorite things to do.

Family Fun Nights

     Speaking of youtube...the kids got idea for taste challenges somewhere, somehow. We decided to do a Oreo Mystery Taste Challenge. Since I don't eat Oreo's, I was the one who bought the different flavors, blindfolded the contestants, and ran the show. They ate half of a cookie and wrote down their flavor guess. I actually can't remember who won? I'll ask them later and edit this if one of them remembers. It was fun, though, and instigated plenty of laughter and silliness.

          Next up, on another random night was the Hint Water Challenge.

     They had to guess the unidentified flavors and again, write down their answers, and I determined the winner. They had me do it next on my own, and it really was difficult to decipher between all of the tastes.

Tornado's First Job

     Tornado got to work for three weeks at the Autism Awareness Shop. He had the opportunity to work at a real job, hanging up clothes, pricing objects, putting things on shelves, etc. It was a good experience for him. He had a bit of a rough first hour (which is information he said is fine for me to share on this blog), which reminded me how difficult it will be for him to have a job one day. It's all a lot to think about. Once he got past the first rough hour, he did marvelously and was able to pick one thing from the shop each week to take home as his "payment."

Extra Blessing

 

    Speaking of baby fever (which will never go away for me), we have been so excited that one of our friends in Florida was expecting a baby. We were so invested haha - like the day she was going to find out if she was having a boy or girl, I just refreshed social media all day. :)

 

     Sis and I went to her baby shower. She is, of course, as sweet and cute as her photos.

Fitness

     Ok. Posting this as motivation. It's good to make your goals known. I have gained almost all of the weight back that I lost when I turned 40. Part of it is from being busy with moving and life. Part of it is my depressed nature that can kick in sometimes. And part of it, I wasn't born with the skinny gene but instead a wonky metabolism. Plus, I don't have a thyroid, and taking a pill everyday just isn't the same as having your body work naturally as it should. It really is always a struggle.

Birthday

     Not the best photo to post immediately after talking about losing weight..I increased another digit. Sis and Ninja assembled my mousse with berries and Theo's pb cups. I would always choose mousse over cake. My birthday wish remained the same as it does every year. I don't think I can say it though, right? I think I might have said it on here before. As I type this over 6 months later, it's on track to coming true. Also, I'm grateful for life. (I think that makes #488: Hey, I just decided I'm going to get back to listing these, working toward 1000.)

 

     For my birthday, I headed "home."

      She's working so hard paddling while I'm taking selfies.

     My friend Angie and I went took a short canoe trip on James River in Galena, MO. I had been determined to go floating for years now, and I hadn't had a chance. So I decided, by golly, I'm going for my birthday. I think I have only been one other time in my adult life, which is crazy. I had a few canoe experiences when I was young.

 

      We brought a picnic lunch with us.

     On the night of my birthday I went with two of my friends to Cafe Cusco, one of my favorite restaurants in Springfield, Missouri. Thankful for rivers, canoes, and these two. (#489-491)

Speaking of Grateful...

      At my age, it's an interesting thing to glance at my three big kids and realize how different our lives would be had we not went forth with having Number Four. They're all pretty old and self-sufficient. There wouldn't be toys lying around and crying and so much chaos. I also wouldn't have so much of this. I tell him every day how happy I am that we have him in our lives. (#492)

 

         I'm in no hurry for him to grow up completely. I'm so thankful for those sweet little hands. (#493)

Vegan Food

     At some point I became obsessed with watching youtube videos. Not when I should be doing something else. Like when I'm in a waiting room. Or washing dishes or folding laundry, etc. I have gained a lot of inspiration for life through this newest obsession. One of my favorite things I discovered is this two ingredient quinoa bread. (#494)

 

      Listen, if you aren't into health food and you're not really interested in eating more whole foods or less gluten/flour products, then these probably aren't for you. The base of it all is pretty bland. You can add whatever spices you want, though. I am looking forward to trying lots of combinations. For me, this whole idea is kind of life changing. I made a bunch of them, froze them, and only took out two or three thin slices to eat with my salad each day, rather than eating chips or bread on the side.

House Progress

 

     I had kind of forgotten about this moment and this photo. This was the first room that was "done." (Thank goodness! #495) I mean, stylistically I was still moving things around and deciding what looks best on the mantel, etc. But the room was cleaned out. No boxes. "Could have company sitting around it" kind of ready. Now on to the rest of the house!

Furry Family Members

 

     Ranger, Mabel, and Gertie

          Have I mentioned how much I love my kitties and taking pics of them? I have? Here it is again...

          My beautiful baby girl is named Ranger. Ninja named him that after my grandfather, who was a Ranger in WWII. We thought she was a boy. She just seemed so different than the other two. Her nipples weren't really present. She was the runt, though. Why did we think she was a boy?! It's all a little blurry right now. We didn't find out until she was like 6 months old, and we were getting ready to take her to get "neutered." I started looking and thinking hmm...I felt like such a bad cat grandma! I have apologized to her a lot since then. I gave Ninja the choice of renaming her something girlier, but he chose to let it stick. Now we say her name is Ranger Ruth.

I'm very grateful for Cali and her 3 babies.

(#496-499)

           I took this photo after I put together their new "little" toy. I'm grateful Ryan didn't kick me out when he saw this in his home. (#500)

 

 

     If anyone is curious, we do still have our puppy babies. I'm grateful that we still have them healthy and sweet at 9 years old. (#501-502)

 

      Do they get along with the cats? They do! Squeals.

Days Out with Friends

summer movie with our buds

and one day with them at the trampoline park

     Tornado doesn't always want to play. But he does appreciate the trampoline places. He had a lot of silly fun this particular day.

Discovering Florida

 

     I wanted one last little adventure before the new school year officially started. I had discovered the cute little town of Gulfport recently with friends. I took the kids one day to visit. It's technically a part of St. Petersburg. I adore this area. It's worth a stop if you are in the area.

 

      We went on a Tuesday for Gulfport Fresh Market, when the streets are lined with vendors. 

 

 

     We ate lunch at the very cute (and vegan friendly) Pia's Trattoria.

 

     We got to walk by Golden Dinosaurs, a new plant based restaurant that has been receiving good reviews.

         The kids ordered two desserts to share and enjoyed it on the patio.

     1st grade, 6th grade, 8th grade, and 12th grade: 

we are ready for you!

     Grateful for days like this. (#503)

(having some difficulty with my spacing and font changes - haven't figured out how to change that yet)