TWO MOMS' HOMESCHOOL

The Opera, The Waiting and Sisterly Love

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:09:00 +0000

Baby Boy, my Baby Niece and I went to see Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme last evening. I so totally heart the opera. Baby Boy has come around to being fairly tolerable of the opera and I always include Baby Niece, because she enjoys the arts a lot, like I do.

I have always enjoyed all stage performances: the opera, the ballet, plays, classical concerts . . . etc . . . you name it, but could never really afford it in real life. Luckily because I homeschool and am part of a fantastic homeschool group, we get to go to the final dress rehearsals, usually the night before opening night, for free. It's a great way to expose children, and art-starved adults, to the visual and performing arts.

That's the plus, but there is the minus. Usually the performances are picture perfect, just like opening night, but sometimes they remind you that it's not opening night. It's a dress rehearsal. Last night the conductor had some fine tuning to do with the orchestra, so we had to sit through that process for about 45 minutes between Acts III and IV.

Luckily, we have lots of experience entertaining ourselves in strange and unusual places. We took photos of ourselves with our cell phone cameras.

Look.

It's pretty funny how my sister's child is exactly like me and, let me assure you, my son is exactly like my sister. My sister and I weren't best friends growing up. In fact, we were mortal enemies and fought like cats and dogs over any and everything. This was further exasperated by the fact that we shared a bedroom until I was 15 years old. It was sheer heck! This ambivalence lasted well into my early twenties. Oh, and I know that I'm not easy to love, so I didn't help the situation. At. All.

Of course, the Fates thought it would be a hilarious joke to have me give birth to a little someone who acts, thinks, and talks exactly like my sister. Ha ha! Very funny! In turn, my sister, three years later - exactly how far apart she and I are - gave birth to a little diva who acts, thinks, and behaves exactly like me. It would be funny if it weren't such a pain.

BUT - - this is the kicker. That simple fact is what has brought my sister and I close together. Now she and I are BFFs. It is hard to not like each other when I have to call her and ask her what the heck is wrong with my kid and what was she thinking anyway all those years ago when she did this, that or the other. After I realized how much like her Baby Boy is, and of course my undying love for him, it overflowed into love for my sister as well. It's really great to just call her up and pick her brain when I'm not "getting" what he is all about. She has shown me that different does not mean wrong, stubborn, irreverent or unbalanced. Different just means different.

All together now . . . Different just means different.

Oh, and don't forget. Different is good. ;-)

So this post has morphed from a commentary on the opera to an impromptu assessment of my relationship with my little sister. That's just about right. I think I may be back to my old self after all, LOL.

Have a wonderful weekend, Everyone! I'll try to get an actual homeschool report up next week. There wasn't too much school work on the schedule this week. It's been a week of life lessons, to say the least. ;-)

Until next time . . .

So . . . What are YOU Eating?

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:00 +0000

Have you seen this movie? Mom #2 and I watched it last night. It's informative, enlightening, disturbing and unnerving.

All day long today, I've been mulling over the things I saw in the film and I think over the weekend I may watch it one more time before returning it to Netflix.

The ideas introduced in this film are not new and really not even news to me, as I've read The Omnivore's Dilemma (after an enthusiastic recommendation by RegularMom) and seen King Corn along with other informational resources regarding the food we eat. Something about the visual images in this movie, really have me rethinking every. single. thing. I eat and feed to my family.

We already try to stay away from processed foods because Mom #2 has high blood pressure and has also had her gall bladder removed and excess salt and fats are hard for her to digest. What really got to me were the images of the foods that are supposed to be healthy for you, can still really have hidden unnatural substances and just their very being have such an unnatural impact on the world we live in.

I know a lot of people on my blog roll already live an environmentally sensitive lifestyle, so I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but it's been on my mind today, so I couldn't go to bed tonight without posting something about this.

So, I guess this is a movie review, a public service announcement, meaningless meanderings . . . I'm not sure. Watch. Listen. Learn. Discuss.

Eat well.

Until next time . . .

Teenagers Give You Exactly 30 Seconds . . .

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:28:00 +0000

. . . To take photos of them when they're busy socializing. Good shot. Bad shot. No shot at all. Either way, it doesn't matter to them. 30 seconds later, it's all over.

If you've been reading for any length of time, you'll notice this is a recycled costume for Baby Boy. He's still getting his money's worth out of it, although I may have to charge him for using an excessive amount of my liquid eyeliner. I'm still not sure what it is, but I know it's from

Naruto Shippuden. Please don't ask any questions, that's all I know. I would ask Baby Boy, but I have to admit, the long version explanation he gives makes me nod off.

Full Body

Ready For His Close-Up

Ready To Party

They're terrible shots, but the party was lots of fun.

Slowly coming around from a sweet induced coma. ;-) My favorite kind.

I hope your festivities were all you anticipated and more.

Until next time . . .

Let the Sun Shine In!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

We've been going through some really tough times lately, but I hate to blog about bad news, so I've just been staying silent about the issues. I'm sure you all can get whining for free at home, so why come here for such silliness.

There is, however, the tiniest glimmer of hope appearing just above an extremely distant horizon.

Positive energy, good thoughts, prayers, chants about found baby birds, etc . . . all much appreciated.

I think I'll leave it at that.

Oh, and, of course, Happy Halloween!

Until next time . . .

IT'S ALL GOOD!!!!!!!!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Today ~~Mom #2 and I~~ Baby Boy finally got the nerve to sign up and sit for his college entrance exam at the Community College.

He placed firmly exactly where we he thought he should . . . and all within college level classes.

YEAH!!!!

It feels so good to know that after all of these years of following no real particular program and just doing whatever has worked for us, we didn't screw him up.

Now there's no denying it, we have a full-fledged college student in our midst. He'll be starting Spring Semester.

These days, I'm doing a lot of walking around in circles, wringing my hands, and crying for no good reason commingled with maniacal laughter.

The beginning of the end is certainly in plain unobstructed view.

What's a Homeschooling Mom to do?

Wait! This is supposed to be a happy post.

Ok, so I'll let this post be about Baby Boy's fantastic test results. I'll whine and cry in another post. Look out for that one very soon.

*SIGH*

Until next time . . .

So . . . Who's Buying the Cool Whip?

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Here's just one more example of my precious Baby Boy growing up into a young man.

Remember when your kids had money burning a whole in their pocket and just couldn't wait to buy candy, soda, and silly trinket toys that broke in 30 minutes?

I know you remember. Shoot, it was just yesterday, it seems.

Well, Baby Boy had some hard earned money burning a whole in his pocket the other day and do you know what he bought?

Pumpkin pie ingredients!

Oh, that isn't he half of it. He then insisted someone . . . well Mom #2 . . . because I don't bake . . . bake him a pie. Then proceeded to eat it very noisily (think smacking and humming) in his room.

I mean seriously, what kind of child saves up their money to buy pumpkin pie ingredients?

I'll tell you, a well fed one. That's who.

Oh, yes. I am raising an independent young man.

The poor woman who has to be his wife had better have some mad kitchen skills, because between my dinners (Oh, they are delicious, if I do say so myself) and Mom #2's desserts (heavenly) . . . this one is spoiled rotten. ;-)

And he's always hungry. Always.

Until next time . . .

Really! Me? OVER THE TOP . . .

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Well . . . my good Blogging Buddy, Ami, must think I am . . . because she passed this fantastical award on to me.

Thanks!

She's one of those bloggers who manages to post every single day. So that's what makes her "over the top" to me . . . I must be over the top in other ways. What way? Who knows. I tend to be a little wordy. Does that count?

Anyway, as with all of the bloggy awards . . . they come with terms and conditions ;-)

The rules of this award are as follows:

Answer the questions below using only one word. Oy, ve!
Thank the blogger who gave it to you. Thanks, Ami.
Pass it on to 6 of your favorite bloggers. Usually I skip out on this part, but there are a few blogs that I'm really enjoying lately, so I'll pass it on . . . but if you don't want to participate I won't stop liking you . . . very much. ;-)

So, here goes!

1. Where is your cell phone? Bra
2. Your hair? Curly
3. Your mother? Delusional
4. Your father? Complicated
5. Your favorite food? Buttery
6. Your dream last night? ZZzzzzz . . .
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Lottery
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Invisibility
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Secure
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something you aren't? Skinny
15. Muffins? Delicious
16. Wish list item? Car
17. Where did you grow up? Europe
18. Last thing you did? Laugh
19. What are you wearing? Capris
20. Your TV? Naturally
21. Your pets? Beloved
22. Your friends? Virtual
23. Your life? Treasured
24. Your mood? Blase'
25. Missing someone? Nah
26. Vehicle? Functional
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
28. Your favorite store? Target'

29. Your favorite color? Red

30. When was the last time you laughed? Now
31. Last time you cried? Tuesday
32. Your best friend? Spouse
33. One place that I go over and over? Potty
34. One person who emails me regularly? Sister
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

Now for the 6 lucky bloggers who are being awarded and tagged to participate . . . Hmm . . .

Teacher Tom - I have only recently began reading his blog. He is fun and insightful and has an artistic and optimistic view of life.

Freakmom - I have such a virtual crush on her, it's not even funny. She and her daughter, Violet, are having great fun on their homeschooling journey.

Hula Hank - My favorite Australian functioning alcoholic blogger. I'm laughing myself silly reading about his transplantation from city life to country life through martini flavored glasses.

Jennifer in Vancouver - This is another recent discovery. Beautiful children being homeschooled by two moms. A family after my own heart. And Canadian. Tres' Chic'!

:)De - Such a treasure! A mom several times over through adoption and she posts beautiful stories and work by her rainbow flavored kiddie corral.

Yvonne - Another curly headed matriarch of a multi-racial family. Her blog is witty, whimsical, creative and insightful. A fantastic read.

So that's it! Go forth and be over the top!

Until next time . . .

One Reason I Love Him . . .

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:13:00 +0000

. . . Is because there's never a dull moment.

After a morning like this, I get shadow boxed for the rest of the day. I'm Mom, not a punching bag. Giving me a big hug after punching me does not make it any better, Baby Boy.

The black belt is so close we can taste it now.

Have a great week!

Until next time . . .

What's Going On . . .

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:21:00 +0000

I didn't want to let Friday get past me again without a homeschool update . . . so here goes:

Composition - Baby Boy has been writing stories in the three paragraph model showing introduction and rising action, climax, and then resolution and moral. He wrote a very interesting story this week about a couple of velociraptors. He's still working on editing it, and will type it over the weekend. I'm going to try to get it posted here next week so y'all can read it.

Vocabulary - We learned several new words this week and Baby Boy did great on his quiz. Another quiz is scheduled for next week, so I'm keeping him on his toes. Have I mentioned how much I love the Vocabulary Cartoons books? They are great for casually increasing your vocabulary. I've even gotten some insight on words I thought I already knew, and that's always interesting.

Literature - We finished reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It was really good. Not as scary as I remember from when I was in high school and Baby Boy didn't think it was scary at all. It does have lots of twists, turns, tangents and sub-plots and that's really what makes this book such an interesting read. We also watched the version of the Frankenstein movie that has Robert De Niro as the Monster. The movie did hold pretty true to the book up until the last 30 to 45 minutes, when the movie maker took some obvious artistic licence, but it was still very good. It isn't a super-scary horror movie, much to my delight and Baby Boy's chagrin. It does have a few extremely graphic scenes and earned it's "R" rating honestly. Next week we'll be doing some analyzing and comparing and contrasting before moving on to our next novel, which will be H. G. Well's The War of the Worlds.

Pre-Calculus - We're working polynomial functions, specifically graphing quadratic equations and rewriting them in and from various forms. All I can say about this subject is that it has gotten very hard very fast. Actually, Baby Boy is fully capable of doing the work, but it takes a lot more time and concentration then he is used to investing in his math work. He is used to just glancing at the lesson and calling it a day, but this requires him to actually slow down and study. So . . . I've slowed down the lessons a bit and I'm interspersing them with algebra 1 and 2 worksheets to make sure his algebra foundation is strong as he continues with the pre-calculus. Also, we'll be taking the SAT pretty soon and I don't want him to forget anything, so it's a win-win for me. He doesn't think it is for him, but he'll thank me one day. Not necessarily soon . . .but one day. I guarantee.

Chemistry - I finally got the 411 on what's going on in the chemistry co-op. So far they've learned about kinetic particle theory, measurement techniques, purification and separation, and element compounds and mixtures - which included a "trial by fire" introduction to the Periodic Table. Coming up this week they'll be studying atomic structure and there is a lab scheduled which includes burning magnesium. That's a courageous lady running the show over there. That's all I have to say. Well that and THANK YOU, because I never ever could.

If you've read this far, thanks for tuning in. If not, I certainly understand. It's one of those things in life that simply must be done. I mean, if you don't give yourself and your kid a virtual report card via a public blog . . . how can you be a homeschooler? ;-)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Until next time . . .

I Can't Wait!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Opera Season starts in November . . . reservations will begin soon!

I totally heart the Opera.

Especially at Educational Discount prices. ;-)

Stay tuned.

Until next time . . .

Torrid and Tasty or Just a Hot Mess?

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Due to Mom #2's high blood pressure which has her on a special diet, coupled with the fact that we both are trying to eat more natural, healthy non-processed foods in addition to the fact that we're always broke . . . we eat at home a lot.

Actually we eat at home exclusively.

Eating at home guarantees that I know exactly what is going into the food I'm serving my family (especially if it's food from Mom #2's delicious organic garden) and best of all, it is cheap.

Seriously, have you ever tried to fill up a 16 year old boy with restaurant food? It's extremely expensive. I don't recommend it at all. If you want to fill up a 16 year old boy, and make it stick, I recommend good old fashioned home cooking from scratch. Believe me, I've tried everything else and that is the only thing that works. A biscuit on the side of anything works wonders. All hail the mighty Paula Deen.

But actually, I'm already on a tangent. I'm totally off the whole point of this post.

Baby Boy went over to my sister's house to keep my niece company while she went somewhere. I don't know where. Who cares where, really. The point is, it's the first time Baby Boy hasn't been home for dinner in . . . well . . . ever.

Mom #2 and I were lamenting about what to do for dinner. I couldn't figure out how to cook a reasonable amount of food for just the two of us without tearing up my entire kitchen and producing a city block worth of left overs. I have no idea how to cook a meal without making 3 or 4 portions for Baby Boy. Also, I exclusively do all the kitchen cleaning around here, so that often plays a part in my menu planning, LOL.

Anyway . . . another tangent.

Unbeknownst to me, Mom #2 ordered a pizza online. A pizza! I mean a real, hot, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, black olive, deep crust pizza. Heaven! I can't remember the last time we had a pizza delivered to this house. We were giggling with anticipation, because we were doing something so naughty. We'd never have a pizza delivered to this house if Baby Boy was here. We made plans to discreetly dispose of the box where he'd never find it and dug in with a giddy heart and hungry bellies. Pizza!

But you know what? It was all right. Mom #2 and I both decided we hadn't missed anything and that my cooking is lots better. Oh well.

But . . . it only took me 5 minutes to clean up the kitchen. Small victories, People. Live and learn.

Until next time . . .

Fight Sequence

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Over the past couple of years, Baby Boy has been writing and illustrating his own original comic book series about the ongoing saga of all things resident evil and the complex characters that are needed to save the world from them.

I usually don't pay too much attention to it, because I've become accustomed to seeing him with a pad of artist's paper and his various writing utensils all the time.

I did, however, think he did a really impressive job on the latest fight sequence. I thought I'd share so you could have just a tiny taste of what I get to read all day every day.

Oh, and just imagine hundreds of sheets of paper all over every horizontal space in your child's room.

Keep your eyes open, you may be seeing more in bookstores near you sometime in the future. At least that's what I tell myself when I'm picking up paper and colored pencils up off the floor, the dresser, the bed and the coffee table.

Until next time . . .

Fantastic Friday Already? Oh My!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:10:00 +0000

Wow! This has been a whirlwind of a week!

I now have a totally new level of respect for you ladies (and possibly a few gentlemen . . . I’m not sure) who work and homeschool and keep a clean house and provide healthy meals and some how manage to maintain a grip on your sanity. My sanity is waning, but I think I’m managing the rest of it all ok. Of course, that’s just my personal opinion. You may have to ask Baby Boy and Mom #2 for the official decision on that, LOL.

The first couple of weeks of school have been exciting, challenging and productive. I can’t imagine a better group of adjectives to describe our learning time together, so I am completely exhausted yet satisfied.

Baby Boy is at Shakespeare rehearsal right now, or I’d ask for some more detail on his studies, but I know this blog has been a little slow lately, so I’m going to go ahead and attempt to post our weekly report without him. Wish me luck!

English Comp seems to be going very well. I think we both like having the DVD teacher and I’m learning a little bit of structure along with Baby Boy. Right now it’s just paragraphs and taking notes from paragraphs and rewriting them in you own words without plagiarizing, but that’s a very important skill, so I’m happy to revisit it.

We’re learning lots of great words in vocabulary. Baby Boy aced his first quiz!

We’re a little more than halfway through Frankenstein. It’s so good. I read it in high school, but that was a looooonnnnngggggg time ago and I’d forgotten what a good story it is. I’ve also picked out a version on DVD that appears to stay pretty true to the book so hopefully we’ll be finished in time to report on that in the next week or so. I don’t really do scary movies, so Baby Boy may have to report that directly to y’all.

Shakespeare Club is going very well. The students are doing some community outreach by performing free shows of The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the public library. Lots of practice, practice, practice which is nice, but hopefully they’ll move on to some different works in the next few weeks.

The Pre-Calculus has been mostly review of algebra 2 at this point. I’m sure new stuff is on the horizon, but I’m in no hurry. I’m not a Mathy Mom at all. In fact, I’m the kind of Mom who is glad that her son is good enough at math to be able to do most of it on his own and has enough sense not to ask me for any assistance when he gets stuck. Big shout out to Mom #2 on the math assistance!

The Chemistry appears to be going very well. I am soooooooo happy that we found this co-op! Baby Boy has someone who can really break all the stuff down to him in words he can understand, and apparently they do the coolest labs every single week. They’ve just been melting and blowing up one thing after another. It’s way more than I could have ever provided him with. It’s such an inspiration! Baby Boy comes home every week super-duper excited and that’s the way it should be!

That’s about all I have to report for this week. I apologize that it’s so general. I’m really trying to get used to having so much going on. Mom #2 had to let someone go from our little home business last week, so both Baby Boy and I have been picking up the slack there, plus I am still working the job that I recently picked up and we’re determined to keep Baby Boy doing his studies at regular intervals. So . . . needless to say we’re busy. Lots of life skills and time management lessons going on, LOL.

I know there are some of you who read this blog as a glimpse into the future for when you begin homeschooling high school teenage boys . . . so I’ll try to be more specific with the next update.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Until next time . . .

NOT your weekly report

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:39:00 +0000

This is normally where you'd find your weekly report, however I am in intense shock over the fact that I stayed home and prepared dinner while Baby Boy drove himself to tae kwon do practice last night.

Both his body and my vehicle made it back in their original condition. Thank goodness!

Yes. He has upgraded his learner's permit to a real live driver's license.

Please excuse me while I go sit in the closet and cry.

Until next time . . .

The Learning Low-Down

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Although I'm often on a tangent of some kind, this is, of course, a homeschooling blog. So now that we've all endured a hideously hot summer (some of us are still enduring it . . . but I've complained enough about the weather in the past few months), let's get back down to the business of learning.

First of all let me say in advance, if something appears to be missing, it probably is. If it seems to be too much, it probably is. We like to utilize a lot of textbooks, living books, DVDs, CDs and good old fashioned discussions here at Two Moms' Homeschool. We aren't married to any specific style of learning or educational path. In fact, we have a "do whatever the heck works" philosophy of learning.

We also have been flirting heavily with the the idea of community college. We have confidence issues. We have transportation issues. We have issues with one of the Moms craving Higher Education when the son should be, but really isn't. We have a lot of issues. I'll have to really get them all out one day, but today can't quite be that day. I have a feeling this post may be long enough.

So . . . after three full paragraphs of disclaimers . . . on to the show. I'm describing all the stuff over there <--- in the sidebar, in case you hadn't figured that out for yourselves, but we're a smart group, so I'm sure you did.

Composition - We are attempting to actually use the SWI writing curriculum this year. We have a love/hate relationship with writing right now. I love to write even though I'm not very good at it. Baby Boy hates to write, even though he is pretty good at it. We're attempting to define some actual rules and parameters before I send him off to the big world of college. I've heard good things about this method from some, not so good things from others. Everything gets a 6 week trial period around here, so stay tuned.

Vocabulary - We literally loved Vocabulary Cartoons SAT Word Power last year, so we're going to continue with Vocabulary Cartoons II SAT Word Power this year. It's a quick fun and easy way to expand and enrich your vocabulary. We usually spend about 5 minutes going over 2 words a day in the mornings and then try to make sentences out of the words throughout the week. It's lots of fun. This is the one thing that I know works, for sure.

Literature - We'll be indulging in some classic sci-fi and fantasy this year in the literature department. We're starting off the year with an oldie but goodie, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Shakespeare - As many of you know, Baby Boy has been in two Shakespeare productions in the past couple of years. Both times we have found ourselves pleasantly surprised at how much we've enjoyed reading aloud, analyzing, and (him) performing Shakespeare's works. This year, we've gone ahead and full-on committed to a Shakespeare group where they will read and discuss plays and sonnets throughout the year and will undoubtedly perform a chosen play next spring.

Pre-Calculus - This year Baby Boy will embark on that subject that no one in this house dare say aloud, but only in hushed whispers . . . pre-calculus. No one in the Two Moms' family has ever successfully achieved higher math skills, so if any of you are good at math, please email me your exact physical location. Have graphing calculator, will travel. ;-) I'm pretty good with basic math, but as parents I think it's important to know our limitations. Pre-calculus would definitely be one of those limitations.

Chemistry - If you've read here for a while, you may remember my tried and failed attempts to teach chemistry to Baby Boy. Finally I am able to accept defeat in this area, not necessarily gracefully, but with a humble heart. When you are an artistic language arts soul, there are certain subject you just weren't meant to master. For me, chemistry is that subject. BUT where there's a will, there's a way. Here's our way: Baby Boy has been playing Ultimate Frisbee for going on three years now and I sit and pretend chat with a lot of the other homeschool Moms there about a little bit of this and a little bit of that and mostly a lot of nothing. Well, do you know what one of those nothing conversations turned up? The young man who Baby Boy gets along with BEST OF ALL on the whole team's Mom has a PhD in chemistry. AND she's actually excited to have Baby Boy over to teach him in a delicious (read free) co-op situation this year. She's just the nicest lady ever and I'm oh so grateful. She's using a Singapore text with supplemental DVDs from The Teaching Company. We are so there! And she is ready to jump in with a full on chemistry lab, I mean on the first day, she's already giving them a blow torch. So wise, yet so foolish. Teen boys, you know.

Economics and American Government - We're going to make this a year long project which will include lots of current events, newspaper reading, documentaries, Hollywood movies, with a dash of textbooks and educational DVDs. I expect a lot of lively discussion, which is what our family is known for.

If you've read this far, thanks. If not, I certainly understand. This is one of those things I have to do at least at the beginning of the learning season. This will be the bones of our structured learning, although we fully support a living and learning lifestyle around here and strive to make every moment one to remember.

Happy Learning!

Until next time . . .

Consider Me Celebrated, oh and BUSY!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Within a 30 day period we have had the following reasons to celebrate:

Mom #2's birthday

Twin Grand Baby Girls were born

Our Doggy's birthday (he's family, you know)

My sister's birthday

Today's my birthday

Next week is my Dad's birthday

Sooooooo last week we had a Big Backyard Birthday Barbecue and EVERYONE was here.

Every since my parents' divorce, my Dad has been making himself super scarce. He'll drop by and pick up Baby Boy to take him to get a haircut or to do other miscellaneous guy stuff (Does anyone actually know what guys do when they're together?) but he never sticks around.

Well he actually got here early and barbecued all the yummy ribs and chicken wings, and then stayed around and ate and visited with us. I mean this may go down in Dos Mamacitas family history. We had so much food that we had to eat, take a break, and then eat some more. ;-)

My sister brought over a friend whom I had never met before. I am really not good with strangers . . . as a general rule . . . I don't speak to strangers. I started out thoroughly irritated, but she was so down to earth and so much fun that she fit right in with my loud and crazy family. So I was actually able to make a new friend. That makes one. Score!

Anyway, I'm all celebrated out! I've made enough congratulatory phone calls and slopped enough sugar to last a lifetime. It was great fun while it lasted, but I'm all celebrated out.

Now I'm settling in for a long weekend of planning, planning, and more planning. We're going to start our school year on Tuesday . . . and I do have all my stuff . . . well most of my stuff (I'm trying to sneak in some extra stuff) . . . but I'm an anal retentive scheduler and I've still got a few loose ends to tie up. More details to follow.

Also . . I've recently scored a great work-from-home job. Although I hate that I need to work, I am so very happy that it is a gig that can be done from home in my pj's early in the morning before Baby Boy and I get started on our schoolwork. Thank goodness for small favors! ;-)

TTFN! Have a great holiday weekend!

Until next time . . .

Surprise! Surprise!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Look who finally decided to make their world debut this morning.
Aren't they precious?

In case you're wondering. Mom #2 is a grandmother times 3 now. I am not a grandmother at all. I just happen to be living with someone who is.

Anyway . . . that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

More photos to come, I'm sure. ;-)

Until next time . . .

An Annual Tradition . . . or a Meat Market?

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:47:00 +0000

On Monday we went to the annual Not Back to School Party thrown by our "local" homeschool group.

It's really a culmination of a lot of little groups, but we all get together a few times a year and this is one of them. The public schools started back on Monday, so we like to take that day to celebrate our decision to flee institutionalized learning and never look back.

We year-round homeschool, so we've been doing some light learning and a lot of life lessons all summer. We will be starting back full throttle on September 8th.

The Whole Group

The Main Event

Too Cool to Actually Get in the Pool

Baby Niece Goes to Private School so She Starts in a Few Days

Uhhm . . . Who's That Girl and What is She Doing With My Son?

WHY Does This Keep Happening?

Well that is one annual tradition with decidedly different flavor this year.

*SIGH*

He's wearing a burqini next year. ;-) Seriously.

Until next time . . .

Success, Beating the Heat, and a Celebration

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0000

What is success to you?

To me, it's figuring out how to make an ice cream cake, when previously the inside of the oven has only been used for storage and the occasional frozen pizza.

Mom #2's birthday ice cream cake was so delicious and it's been a great way to beat the heat. She's been having a piece every day after work. Today is the 64th day we've been at or over 100 degrees this summer, BTW.

Take a close look . . . that's homemade cake, pralines and cream ice cream, and whipped topping made from scratch (thanks to Mom #2's artisan mixer).

It's nice to have something sweet and cold after a hard day's work.

Now that's something to celebrate!

Until next time . . .

It's Someone's Birthday! (Thankfully, Not Mine)

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:36:00 +0000

Today is Mom #2's birthday!!!!!!

Unfortunately, she has to work on her special day, but while she's gone, I'll be attempting to make her a homemade ice cream cake. I usually only cook food that can be prepared either on top of the stove or in the crock pot. Mom #2 does the savory baking and such, so this is a huge venture for me. Hopefully we'll all be alive tomorrow as witness that all things are possible, LOL.

Even though Mom #2 has thoroughly deserted her Organic Gardening Blog (even though she is still organically gardening), it would really mean a lot to me if some of you could drop by and send her a little birthday love. We're super-tight on finances right now, so that's about all she'll be getting for gifts this year.

I hope every one's weekend went wonderful. Have a great week!

Until next time . . .

It. Was. Not. A. Date.

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:25:00 +0000

A very nice young lady from our homeschool group was taking a family day trip to the local water park this weekend. She was allowed to invite one person, and guess who that was?

You already know.

She and her dad drove down and picked up Baby Boy and apparently they had a fantastic time because 10 hours later, Baby Boy came home smiling from ear to ear and exhausted: he took a shower, ate all the food we had left in the house, and went to bed. He said she gave him a hug when it was time for him to come home. What have we learned about keeping our hands to ourselves? Anyone.

Just because he's getting older does not mean little hot tamales can come over here and take my Baby Boy away . . . this is going to take a LOT of getting used to.

WWWWHHHHAAAAAAA!!!!!!

That is all. Enjoy your week. I'll be spending mine slathering myself in Oil of Olay, because I'm feeling a little old and distraught today.

Until next time . . .

Temporary Reprieve

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:45:00 +0000

It only lasted one short night, and today it's back up to 104 degrees, but it felt SO GOOD!

(Ignore the muffled voices in the background. I don't know how to edit them out.)

Yes, we're country/ghetto enough to collect rain water in ice coolers. ;-)

Everyone have a fantastic weekend. Stay cool!

Until next time . . .

The Double Vision Countdown!

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Mom #1 hosted a baby shower for her daughter this weekend.

There were lots of snacks

and decorations.

Of course, Step-Baby-Girl got lots of gifts

Which, of course, included two of everything, since we're expecting twins.

But don't worry, Grand-Baby-Girl still made sure that no matter what anyone else thought, she was still the star of the show . . . for a few more weeks anyway.

Her due date is next month but she's very big and starting to have some contractions already . . . so I guess we'll just have to see what happens. Nature can be a strange and unpredictable thing! Needless to say . . .

SHE'S READY!!!!!

LOOK AT THAT TUMMY!!!

Until next time . . .

Free . . . or just Weird?

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:50:00 +0000

How free do you feel?

I mean, do you feel free enough to be your authentic self no matter what anyone else thinks?

Seriously. Do you? Sometimes I think I do, but sometimes I'm not so sure.

Here's an example of what I mean. Yesterday Baby Boy felt free enough to go to the public library dressed like a ninja. Not just a regular ninja either, a really ninja-ey ninja, even though everyone else was wearing regular clothes.

Take a look

What you can't really see in this photo is the great big bandage wrapped sword or the knife wounds he drew on his face with one of my eyeliner pencils that really put the cherry on top of this little ensemble. ;-)

When I asked him if anyone else was wearing a costume or if anyone looked at him like he was crazy, his response was "Some old man said I looked cool." He said it with about as much enthusiasm as if he had just told me the sky was blue. In other words, none whatsoever.

He has been enjoying a particular graphic novel series (at least he's reading, right?) this summer and got so enamored with one of the characters, that he actually saved his hard earned money, researched online, and purchased himself a costume to wear just because he wanted to. I mean this child was walking around a conservative (Ha Ha Hee Hee! We got by them!) suburban neighborhood in a full-fledged ninja costume in the middle of the Texas summer heat (it was 102 degrees here yesterday, by the way).

You see, he was wearing the costume for himself, because he liked it and wanted to wear it. He wasn't wearing it to impress anyone else or to see what kind of reaction he would get. It just didn't matter to him.

This is one of the things that really impresses me about my son. When I was his age, I was so busy trying to "fit in" and do just the right things, and wear just the right clothes, and go to just the right places (failing miserably on all accounts, by the way), that I almost lost myself in the mix. I think it's amazing that somehow Mom #2 and I have managed to raise a son who doesn't give a flying fig about what others think of him. I think of it as private liberation, personal freedom.

I mean I am fully aware that sometimes when our homeschool group gets together, we can look like a big old bunch of misfits, and that used to bother me a little bit. I really wanted people to think of us as "normal" people who just happen to homeschool.

Now I know that when I look at that brood of bohemians, that I'm looking at individual pillars of freedom, with Baby Boy (bless his heart) at the head of the pack. Long live the King!

They always make me smile.

So now you all officially have my permission to embrace your inner weirdo today and every day.

Go forth and wreak havoc on all that is plain, usual, and ordinary.

Until next time . . .

Hi, I'm Mom #1. Remember Me?

mglhrh01@yahoo.com (MOM #1) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Thanks so much to everyone who commented and emailed wondering how we are doing.

We're fine.

I'm just having a lazy summertime, I guess. I took a big old break from blogging and blogs in general. I have no sense of balance when it comes to the computer, and blogs specifically. You all are just so darn interesting . . . I'm either reading, commenting and posting all day long or none at all. It's a character flaw, I know, but that's just the truth. ;-)

We've finished up our homeschool studies for a bit and are taking a break, which actually means we're just laying on the floor under the ceiling fan trying not to pass out from heat stroke. It's so hot here! It's been at least 100 degrees for 16 days in a row. We broke the streak yesterday because it was only 99 degrees, but I was still hot. It's back up to 102 degrees today. Last week we had a couple of days when it was 106 degrees! It's too hot to move, yet alone do anything actually constructive, so I've been watching TV. ;-)

I had some more dental work done. If y'all have been reading for any length of time, you know that I have an extremely tumultuous relationship with all dental professionals. They are some of my least favorite people. I was on some really good pain medication for about a week, and that also prevented me from being online, because I was living in a land inhabited only by myself and the Tooth Fairy, I kid you not.

And guess what else, I sewed. Yes, you read that right, I sewed! I haven't sewn anything since I made myself an outfit in home economics in high school. I have a photo around here somewhere of me wearing said outfit, but since I haven't posted in almost a month, I'd better not walk away from the computer now, or this may never actually get finished, LOL. I'll try to find it later, it's hilarious. I actually wore it on my senior trip. You know the trip, we all put all of our hard earned money together and we barely had enough to drive to Six Flags, which is just a few miles down the road, LOL. We were so pathetic, LOL. Anyway, I digress.

Baby Boy was playing not one, but two parts in our local homeschool group's production of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, so I actually had to make him two costumes. They actually came out pretty good. See . . .

This is our super-fantastic cast . . . (I couldn't get that other Mom to move over) . . .

. . . this is costume number one . . .

. . . and this is costume number two.

Not bad, right? So now I've officially earned my Greatest Mom on the Planet badge for this grading period. I'm not sure what my next magic trick will be, but I'll keep you posted.

Baby Boy also recently did one gruesome dissection project. I would tell you about it, but it really deserves a post all to itself. I'll be sure to post a disclaimer for you squeamish types. It certainly isn't for the faint of heart. In fact, I left the house, so all the photos and commentary will be courtesy of Baby Boy and Mom #2. Stay tuned.

So consider yourselves caught up! I'm going to be making my way to all of your blogs over the weekend and next week, so look for me to be back in action.

Until next time . . .