Help, I've got sand in my lipgloss

It has been a crazy month.  We spent our 'spring break' dealing with all kinds of drama.  Unlike most people, we didn't go on vacation, it was more like a 'I can't teach and go through all of this at the same time' kind of thing.  First we had sewer problems, and then we were out of electricity for days (not fun with a house full of kids - I don't care what 'off the grid' folks say) and then my husband was hurt in a horse accident that left him laid up for a couple of days.  And if you've ever had an active husband trapped in his house for a couple of days then you know how pleasant that can be.

But things are finally getting back to normal and spring is almost here.  The wind has arrived and held us hostage for weeks, which is nothing unusual for this part of the world.  Instead of spring, my kids call this the 'windy season' which goes along with the other seasons - hunting season, winter and summer.  Its not unusual for the wind to blow 50 miles an hour and this year it's torn off our screen doors, blown off our metal chimney and torn up our gas grill.  The dirt fills the air like a black cloud.  It's never a good idea to wear lipgloss in March or April.

I'm hoping it will cease for a few days so I can get the garden planted.  The kids are a big help with the garden and this year the baby will take part as well.   I have so much to do in the way of landscaping and gardening, it seems overwhelming.  And hopefully I can start teaching outside soon so the kids will get their Charlotte Mason daily recommended dose of nature.  Speaking of nature, we are surrounded by babies.  There are calves everywhere and they are so fun to watch.  Now if it would just rain so our grass would turn green.

Why We Homeschool

We live down a very long dirt road.  I am fond of telling people that we are geographically challenged.  That was our initial reason for homeschooling when we decided that we would move to the ranch five years ago.  I knew that homeschooling would be the plan if we didn't want to drive an hour back and forth each day.  It was not an easy decision for me coming from a family of teachers.  My mother, uncles and aunts and most of my friends are teachers so I think some of them consider me a traitor to my own kind.  If you live in rural Texas, chances are you are a teacher or a nurse.  Thankfully, my sister in law homeschooled with great success and so my husband is a big supporter, plus I live in an area that has always had a thriving homeschool community.

If you would have asked me ten years ago if I would ever consider homeschooling I would have keeled over laughing.  And I think most current homeschooling moms can say the same thing.  It really does seem like there is a revolution in the homeschooling movement, as you can tell by the amazing amount of homeschooling mom blogs. 

When friends tell me how amazed they are that I'm homeschooling and give me the standard "you're so brave because I could never, ever do that"  speech with that "you must be crazy" look in their eye, I defensively respond, 'Have you seen where I live?"   Like "no way would I be doing this otherwise."  However, that is not really the truth and feel like I'm short changing myself.  The truth is now I love homeschooling.  I wonder now if I had the choice, would I have it any other way.

I feel like my children and I are a team united on one quest.  Everyday we learn together, we challenge one another.  Sometimes it's as hard for me to muster up the mental fortitude to make it through handwriting and arithmetic as it for them.  I would love as much to check my email or clean my kitchen as they would love to be playing outdoors, but we challenge each other to keep going.  And I look forward to learning with them as much as I do educating them.  When they catch on to something new we all do the happy dance together and celebrate.  I don't remember ever not once celebrating learning in school. 

Now granted, my kids are five, three and one so give me a few years to get self righteous.  It is very challenging when one or three of them is tired, sick or moody.  Sometimes I'm tired, sick and moody and I don't have the luxery of dropping them off at school or with someone to take care of and I have to just keep going.  I'll outline the challenges I face personally with homeschooling in a later post, mainly just for myself so I can monitor my progress.  My husband and friends can tell you that there are days when it changes me in to a crazy person.

One of the unexpected joys of homeschooling for me is how much I've enjoyed teaching my children the bible and instructing them on matters of the heart.  It's such a delight to see how close they've grown to God and to each other and what a significant difference daily habit training has made on their development.  Another thing I love about being able to homeschool is the variety of things they get to learn.  We're not penned in to a set curriculum and so learning is organic and spontaneous.  Plus, my children get exposed to classical music, art and beautiful literature and aren't stuck with their nose in a text book or learning for one annual test. 

Living on a ranch provides numerous learning opportunities, especially for little boys fascinated with earth science.  A large part of the kid's education involves nature studies on fascinating geological formations and wildlife habitat as well as hands on learning about weather, gardening and animal care.  We're outside a lot and I think that makes a huge difference.

I try not to become too opinionated about homeschooling when talking to friends and family because I appreciate everyone's individual need to educate their children in the way they see fit.  I'm glad I live in a state that affords us the individual right to choose.  The more I learn the more I grow in confidence and I'm looking forward to our homeschooling journey as long as it continues to be the best thing for our family. 

Oh Sister

Ten pounds is hard to lose.  Since I've been pregnant for five years I have gained and lost hundreds of pounds and 13 months after birthing my last baby all I have is ten more pounds to go.  But I don't think it wants to go away.  No, its settled here on my lap and I think it's made itself at home.  Now I know.... I could go to the gym....not.  I could eat right.  That would mean preparting an entirely different meal other than the one my family is eating, which is by the way, not exactly healthy.  Dinner is homemade, wholesome food, but prepared for the man who digs postholes for a living, mind you.

Losing ten pounds will mean shifting my priorities.  I will have to...ugh....exercise.  So now I can for the one hour a day that I have for myself (I don't have an hour, but I will find one) exercise instead of taking a shower, doing a bible study, checking my email, updating this sorry excuse for a blog, or heaven forbid - taking a nap.  I will have to do this before the snacks come out and that will be soon.

Will I be in a bikini in time for summer around the stock tank?  I don't know, but I'll keep you posted.  In the meantime, I have a lot of sisters out in the pasture who feel me.

Nature Study - February

Our nature study this month will feature bird's nests. Yesterday the kids and I drove around the ranch to find what little we could in the way of trees that might hold various desert birds' nests. We found many cactus wren nests, which are built in the choya cactus. What we lack in trees, we make up for in cactus and that is why our main focus this week will be the cactus wren. Then we will study the ever present Roadrunner and the glorious Red Tailed Hawk.

A conspicuous sight and sound of the Southwestern deserts, the Cactus Wren is the largest wren in North America. Although it can be found in urban backyards, it is a true bird of the desert and can survive without freestanding water. - www.allaboutbirds.org

Camera Envy

I can't believe we just bought a camera that cost more than it cost to deliver my last child. I can't believe my husband, who is the smart one of the family, thought it was a good idea. It started out as an idea, buy a better camera than the five year old 5 megapixel piece of junk that took five minutes of you holding down the button before it would actually take the picture, but then quickly grew in to an absolute obsession.

I thought it would take years of saving money, but something happened that enabled us to have extra cash to go along with the egg money I'd been saving for a hutch/buffet. Now the enormous empty space in my dining room is still there but we do have an amazing tool to capture memories of our family.

Not to mention we live in a beautiful area that screams to be photographed. Every day is a photo op. I still don't know how to work the darn thing, but I bought a book on it larger than my complete works of Shakespeare and I've been reading every conceivable thing online I can find. This could indeed be a stronghold.

My Fairy Princess

I think we all have seasons of our children's lives that we can say we've enjoyed the most. I know a lot of women who love being pregnant and some friends of mine love newborns, others loved when their kids were toddlers or when they are older. I can't say I have an absolute favorite time because I've enjoyed every stage of my children's lives, and I didn't even mind the 'terrible two's' because my kids weren't terrible. My son spoiled me rotten until he turned five and then he decided go through the 'terrible fives' after convincing me all those years that he was perfect (he's still perfect but in a different, more rambunctious, mischievous way.)

I can say that I've thoroughly enjoyed my daughter being three. I now think nothing is better in the world than a three year old little girl. Her day starts with boundless energy. She greets everyone with a big smile and joyous good morning and immediately starts talking non stop about all her wonderful plans for the day. I drag myself half dazed from being up all night with a baby to the coffee pot, where Pigeon waits for me firing rapidly with questions. "Can we have a tea party?" "Can I wear my princess costume"? "In the spring will you build me a castle in a Wonderland?" I don't know what a Wonderland requires, but it's a good thing daddy has a MIG welder. After breakfast she is dressed in full princess or Fancy Nancy Regalia, complete with jewels and crowns and a host of baby dolls. I still haven't woken up enough to fathom how I'm going to entertain such energy all day. And she's so good natured to her big brother and baby sister and always includes them in her itinerary for the day.

During the day and in the evening she is always underfoot, asking to help me cook or wash the dishes. "Of course," I say and even though it takes twice as long and it's twice as messy, I let her climb up and sling flour and dish soap around the kitchen. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this isn't her father's favorite stage because she talks non stop and at a very high pitch and he can't watch any TV without her bouncing into the room with some random question. Then she flits away as quickly as she comes in, trailing jewelry and baby dolls as she goes.

As I tuck her in at night she asked dreamily, "can we have a picnic tomorrow and then I can be a princess and you can be the mommy and then we can go to Africa and maybe come home and make cupcakes and have a friend spend the night and then you can buy me a princess talking vanity for my birthday and after that can we....." After she's asleep I sneak into her room and marvel at how something so vibrant can suddenly become so still and serene. And I thank God that he has given me three children so different, so special and so beautiful in their own way. And I pray for more energy.

Post Holiday Blues

It seems like I just put up the Christmas tree and now I face the much maligned task of taking it down. Note to self next year - skip the tacky, white trash icicles. I hate to dismantle Christmas because it makes it a reality that the holiday season is over and the long, windy, barren months of January through March begin. It's my most dreaded time of year. Thank goodness I'm homeschooling and I will at least be occupied with teaching. At least that's what I thought until this morning....

Today was our first day back on a schedule after taking it easy for three weeks. I didn't expect it to go too well necessarily, but I was shocked that the kids completely melted down and acted like I had just asked them to clean out a stock tank. It didn't help that I'm recovering from the flu and I have limited patience. I'm convinced that they can smell when you're weak and use it to their advantage. If this is the what I can expect every time we come back from a break than I'll teach year round. Does anyone have a remedy for this?