February 18, 2021

 We had commonwealth today, and I waited until this morning to mix up Playdough for the little ones.  But I got up about 7:20 and got it done.  I fed the kids breakfast, ate my own breakfast, and cleaned up the house a bit until everyone got here (we had class here today).  

After opening exercises, we broke into book discussion groups, because some read Heidi and others read Hatchet.  When the littles started getting restless, I started the playdough activity with them.  They were entertained.  After all, who doesn't LOVE playdough?!  

Peyton, Faith, and Liberty went to Sawyer's house to play.  Jared and Jordan stayed here to hang out with Braden and David.  Jordan and Braden shot the pellet gun out back for a few minutes until they decided it was too cold and came back in.  Jared and David worked on their improv.  

A Sheriff's Deputy died today.  I'll add more details later once the family has had a chance to process things before the whole world knows (not that anyone reads my blog, but just in case).  Jared was pretty worked up about it.  

I mixed up some chili seasoning and made chili.  I was supposed to make chicken and black bean chili, but I forgot that I wasn't making regular chili, so I thawed ground beef instead of chicken.  So regular chili it is.  Maybe I'll make chicken and black bean chili tomorrow.  I also made some cornbread that is supposed to roll over into leftovers to use for a salad and a casserole in the coming days.  We'll see how much of it my family leaves tonight.  

Jared took Jared and David to improv, and Braden and Jordan to jiujitsu.  I stayed home to cook. 

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 20, 2020, Monday

9:19
The bus dropped off breakfast/lunch bags for the kids this morning.  It had Jell-O in it.  J4 has never tried Jell-O.  Well, I wanted him to try it.  He didn't want to.  I finally convinced him.  I got some on the spoon and moved it toward his face.  He retreats, screaming, "It's MOVING!"  He did eventually try it.  Almost threw up.  Fail.  Seriously, what kid doesn't like Jell-O?!  I've got two! 

Putting pork in the slow cooker for dinner tonight. 

10:00
Had my breakfast.  Made my bed.  Checked the three rooms I have previously organized to ensure they're still in order.  Hopefully I get to the kitchen today.  Now time to do a reading lesson with J4.

10:30
Finished a reading lesson with J4.  He was super excited to read his first book!  (It only had four words.)  Then he wanted to do some math, so we practiced writing "5" and "five" and counting a picture of five pigs in a marching band (from an old workbook someone gave us). 

Helped D15 with his lowest common multiples. 

Waiting for P7 to finish clearing the table and B12 to clean the kitchen so I can do some things with them.  I have to stay on P7 like crazy to get her to complete a task.

2:00
Created the first page of my bullet journal.  Read with P7.  Worked on logging my books into my Libib account.  Made, served, and ate lunch.  It's about to storm.  Time to do math with P7.

2:32
P7 was so thrilled with herself after her math lesson, she decided to teach it to J4. 

I loaded and started the bread machine, as well as the washer and dryer. 

It's storming.  I love a summer storm.  They never last long enough.

9:40
Organized about half of the kitchen.  Assisted P7, B12, and D15 through their Zoom rehearsal for "The Big One-Oh," a Zoomsical Musical Extravaganza!  It's going to be cute.  Made corn on the cob and pico (with corn chips) for dinner.  Shred the pork.  Jared got home and added the barbecue.  We all ate.  P7 cleared the table.  B12 cleaned the kitchen.  I did some transcriptions.  I'm going to check out my bullet journal, try some more doodles from Pinterest, and go to bed. 

Homeschool?

I'm strongly considering homeschooling David next year.  He's not doing so great at school.  I know he's smarter than what he's showing at school, but he's too distracted there to really get into learning.  The school is doing fine, they just have too many kids in each class to give him the attention he needs in order to learn.  He's all for it because I told him that we could do more science and history than what he gets in school, which is what he really likes to learn about.  Of course we still have to do the basics, but it'll allow us to explore his individual interests a whole lot further.  He's also excited that I told him he can help plan the field trips.  This is going to be a huge undertaking.  Excuse me... I've got some research to do!