August 13, 2020

 Jared is supposed to be off today, but he has to teach driving.  No OT pay though, he's getting comp time.  It's something, I guess.  

Learned a new word today!  Don't make fun of me if you already know it. 

Portmanteau /port-man-tow/ n / 

    1.  A large trunk or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening in two equal parts (I may actually have heard this one before.  

    2.  A word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two other words, for example, motel (from motor and hotel), brunch (from breakfast and lunch), or podcast (from iPod and broadcast).  

    Definition from Google

Made the kids some breakfast.  B12 took care of the animals and watering the garden.  

Transcribed reports while B12 worked on math (we discussed finding the area of a trapezoid) and D15 worked on his math/Spanish/guitar/whatever else he's learning these days (we discussed finding the volume of a cylinder).  

Seasoned chicken and started it in the slow cooker while D15 came into the kitchen to discuss The Giver/Gathering Blue/The Messenger by Lois Lowry.  

Transcribed more reports and read from an issue of Real Simple Magazine.  (That's where I got my new word.)  P7 worked on Khan Academy Kids on my phone.  B12 did his Spanish lesson.  

Jared came home for lunch.  And left again.

Completed a reading lesson with P7, and a lesson with J4 (the letter R).  

Tutored B12 on his trumpet.  He really wants to play Happy Birthday for P7's birthday next month.  (The thought crossed my mind of a homeschoolers marching band.  I bet we could smoke 'em at competition!)  

D15 cleaned the kitchen, P7 and B12 took care of clutter patrol, I worked on laundry.  I listened to more of the TJEd conference while I was in my room folding laundry.  Then Jared came home and I turned it off.  When I did, I heard songs from Hamilton playing from the living room.  The king's song comes on and suddenly I can hear all the kids singing at the top of their voices and dancing in the living room.  I should really get a video of this, but they'll be done by the time I get my phone and get to them.  

Transcription again.  Jared and D15 went for some errands.  D15 has Improv class tonight.  

July 19, Sunday

Wow... a week has gone by!  I get all off routine when Jared is off work.

We took the kids to The Beach at Farmington Lake on Monday morning.  I'll try to remember to post some pics in here.  Jared is on a long work week because he's switching his schedule.  He had to work Wednesday through Saturday last week and Sunday through Wednesday this week, so 8 days straight.

I've been working on organization lately.  Three rooms done (craft room, pantry, and laundry room)... too many to go.  Kitchen is next.

I finally got two zucchini out of my garden.  It's been slow going.  I think I planted late, and I started from seeds rather than starts, so it's pretty slow.

We're celebrating Tonya's birthday at Jared's parents house tonight.  I'm bringing a fruit tray and dip.  I also made a sugar scrub for a gift and I'm baking a loaf of bread to present with orange butter.

Jared did a history lesson with the kids on Friday about the Japanese Empire, so I made Japanese food for dinner last night... beef teriyaki, sesame broccoli, and sticky rice.  Actually it was pretty good.  I'll probably add that to my list of regulars.

Even on a Sunday, I've completed several transcriptions. 

We weren't invited to church today, as they're are just at the beginning of the alphabet.  But they want B12 to go to pass the sacrament.  He'll be picked up at 3:00, so I better help him get ready. 

Tonya and Tim were cooking at Jared's parents' place.  They had biscuits and gravy.  The kids played with their cousins, ended up so dirty!  I held Baby D for a while... she's still so little!  I love it, but I'm glad to be done.  J4 is out of diapers and we're moving on :) 

I made it!!! ... birthday cake edition

A GREAT BIRTHDAY YOU SHALL HAVE

Check out my light saber birthday cake for little B's 6th.  I must say I don't think it's one of my better cakes since I started making Mommy-Made-It birthday cakes, but light saber isn't much subject to work with.  He had a great time with his family and friends, and that's what counts!  We had pool-noodle light sabers for them to play with, and I wore my long, brown, Jedi robe for the occasion.  Go Mom!