Phew!!

I will sleep well tonight! I have just completed the portfolios for all three boys!! The 1st and 4th graders were a snap--probably 20 minutes each. BUT, my 11th grader's portfolio was SO MUCH MORE COMPLEX (high school always is)!! It took me days to complete all the paperwork. I only need 2 signatures, 1 certificate and then I will bring it to the dear, dear ladies at the UPS store to photocopy (so glad I don't have to do this) and mail out. Oh, how happy I am!! I could sing and dance, but I think I'll just go to bed....ah, peaceful slumber. Good night!

Signs of Readiness

My boys are sending me mixed messages, but thankfully, after 20 years of parenting, I am able to decipher their signals.

Yesterday, my 7 year old made the statement, "I want to do school." Using my keen mothering skills, I have decoded his subtly worded message. He really means, "I want to do school in September." It takes years of motherhood to achieve this level of intuitive understanding.

For instance, when both 10 and 7 year old boys picked up notebooks and pencils yesterday and began writing in their journals, I knew better than to jump to the conclusion that they are desiring some structure and stimulation. I'm not that naive! It's still summer for goodness sakes!!Still, they almost had me today when my 10 year old, after spending some quiet time on the computer, started pulling out pans, mirrors, paper and other items. He was trying to make a rainbow according to the instructions on the Magic School Bus website. Now, this is very tricky, but I know it was just subliminal suggestion causing him to do this. You see, I told him that we would be studying Magic School Bus books in our science curriculum this year, and that I had won a big lot of them on ebay last night. It's really not that he's excited and eager.

Really.

7 Quick Takes Friday

***1***
Well, first and foremost, we got approved for our construction loan yesterday. It looks like we will be building that house after all! I am excited to have our own home again, after renting for 3 years, but I also know the amount of work we have before us and am feeling a little overwhelmed. I have great plans for school, but don't quite know how I will implement them while painting, packing, moving, etc. As with all things, it will be by the Grace of God.

***2***
Next year, I think I am going to hire a babysitter/nanny/someone to watch the kids for as many days as it takes to complete the end of year paperwork/portfolio "stuff". And I am going to do it the week after we complete schooling. I have spent the entire summer doing paperwork, with the construction loan, student loan, and insurance. Now I am trying to summarize the entire year for 3 kids, the oldest being a high school junior, which requires much more record keeping than the youngers. It also means asking that high school junior to find "lost" assignments for me or to re-do the ones he is missing....that goes over really well, as you can imagine!
I feel like this has been a "lost" summer as I haven't been able to relax or give my kids my undivided attention. I am feeling guilty about that. I will do things differently next year.

***3***
On the other hand, I have all of my school planning done and even have a schedule fleshed out. I just need to fill in page numbers and particular assignments and voila! we can begin. Planning is always more fun than recording. I just have a couple more books to order.

***4***
Sigh, I need to come up with a new disciplinary plan for my 10 year old. He was born with a very intense personality...truly it was present the day he was born. His inability to "roll with the punches" and deal with change or frustration, causes big time problems to our family's peace. There is the flip side to his personality also. He is very smart, funny and can be quite compassionate....until something (anything!) sets him off. He has begun punching walls (not people!) when he is upset. Disciplining him normally involves me physically restraining him or moving him bodily to a time-out space. He is getting bigger and it is difficult. We need to help him control his anger, but I am fresh out of ideas. His behaviors need to be modified and I recognize that sooner rather than later is necessary. I don't want his lashing out and punching to escalate. I am open to suggestions...and prayer!

***5***
College girl leaves in 8 days...not that I'm counting:(

***6***
Hubby and I have joined the ranks of the uninsured. Being self-employed, we were purchasing our own health insurance...at a whopping $1400 per month WITH a $4,000 deductible, which meant that we paid every medical bill that came through the house. We reached the deductible last October. In all we spent $20,000 out-of-pocket for premiums and medical bills.
It. was. killing. us. financially.
The premium was going up to $1800. After researching all of our options, we decided to cancel our health coverage altogether. In six months we can apply for our state health care coverage for children -- NH Healthy kids. We will be able to pay $100 per month for all 4 of the younger kids to have really good coverage (as long as we qualify), but they have to be uninsured for 6 months! College girl will be insured through her college's insurance plan. Hubs and I will have no insurance. We are not happy with it, but we really have no choice.
And now, I read that President Obama wants to levy a tax... A TAX!... on people who do not have sufficient health insurance coverage, as part of his health care reform!! What, like we are just doing it to spite him and not because we are desperate?!!? No one wants to be without coverage, but sometimes it is just plain out of reach. Taxing us is not going to change that for the better. Who could possibly think it a viable solution to tax someone who already can't afford something? Ridiculous!

***7***
Ummmm, sorry about the negative tone of #6, umm and #4.

***8***
I'll add a #8 to make up for my negativity. We also received confirmation that college girl's loan was approved. We received a great surprise when we logged on to her account at Franciscan University and saw that she had, in addition to the Pell grant she was awarded months ago, an institutional grant and a couple of Stafford loans, that we knew nothing about!! Yay! It cut her alternative loan amount in half. Happy day!

Visit Jen for more quick takes!

I love this idea!!

I got this link from Elizabeth Foss's blog. What a great idea! If you are concerned about the socialization of our health care system, go read this!

Patron Saint of Priests in the Year for Priests

"Show me the way to Ars, and I'll show you the way to Heaven"

As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Cure's entrance into Heaven, check out this link for more information on indulgences granted on St. John Vianney's feast day and a story about him.

Daybook - Evening edition

FOR TODAY August 3, 2009...
Outside my window...
It was a beautiful day...blue skies, sun, not too warm or too humid, although I did get kind of warm sitting watching my son's soccer game with the sun beating down on me, but, in general, it wasn't that hot, humid, thunderstormy stuff we have been having...in between the rain...it's been a strange summer, weather-wise.
I am thinking...
Of all the things I need to accomplish before school starts again, and before college girl goes back to Ohio, *sigh*. She leaves in 2 weeks. It seems like she just got here. The missing doesn't get easier, really. I'm not so worried about her anymore, but I still miss her alot when she's gone. Even before she leaves. So does her brother, Sammy.
I am thankful for...
a conditionally pre-approved student loan, finally!
From the learning rooms...
Oh my, still wrapping up last year, pulling together portfolios, and all the paperwork involved with my high schooler's transcripts. Ugh.
On the bright side, all my planning is done for next year. Planning is much more fun than recording!
From the kitchen...
Not too inspired lately. Still trying to keep up the fruits and veggies. I'll cut up a canteloupe for breakfast tomorrow. It will probably be grilled lemon, pepper and garlic chicken for dinner, with potato salad and zucchini and summer squash with onions.
I am going...
To work with college girl tomorrow in her room to weed out old clothes and the "stuff" in her room that she needs to pack for college or throw out. We usually have differing opinions about what needs to be thrown out or kept. It should be exciting.
I am reading...
"Bless me Father for I have Kids" by Susie Lloyd. She's very funny. Sometimes it's like she's looking in my windows...a little eerie.
I am hoping...
For more good news on the loan front...all in accordance with God's Holy Will.
I am hearing...
Sammy's sweet snoring...or should that be Sammy Sweet's snoring???
Around the house...
So many things need organizing, purging and maybe, packing...it's a little overwhelming. I think I need to do the Flylady thing...just one hour per day and soon the "stuff" will be under control. Right?
One of my favorite things...
The little brown bodies of my children, that prove to me that they have been enjoying summer activities, even though I feel I have been tied down with construction loans, student loans, health insurance, portfolios, lesson plans and paperwork.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Portfolios, purging, packing and paperwork
...and a little soccer....always soccer...
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
He is going to miss her. We all are.

Visit Peggy for more daybooks.

Guess what we did today!!

We went to the ocean!! Unfortunately, our oldest son couldn't join us, as he had a prior commitment, but we packed the rest of us up and went to York Beach, Maine for the day. We realized that college girl is leaving in two weeks, so we decided to do something fun with her before she goes. We had a great day.When I was growing up, we spent time every summer in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, as my mom had family there. I LOVE the ocean! The briny smell of the sea, the salty air, the squawks of the seagulls and crashing of the waves...I don't know...it rejuvenates me somehow. It is so easy to feel the presence of God at the ocean and to see and feel His majesty and power.
We first visited the Nubble Lighthouse. It is so charming and picturesque. The tide was out and all the big rocks were exposed. We climbed on the rocks and found little tide pools. Even though it was beautiful, the kids were itching to get to the beach...so off we went.After driving around for an hour (no kidding!) we finally found an open, legal spot and pulled in. Apparently, the car behind us (after we pulled out at an intersection) thought that the space should've been hers, and shouted out her window as she passed us, "You're welcome!" We just looked at each other and shrugged. We understood her frustration. Finding parking was a BEAR! Anyway, the kids dumped their stuff on the sand and raced towards the water. It was as cold as I remember it being, but oh, so fun! Sammy did not want to go to the ocean at first. Apparently, his brother has been telling him shark stories... hmmmmm...But Sam sure conquered his fear! He is definitely a water-lover and is always the last one out of the pool. It was the same at the ocean. He couldn't stay out of the water.Surprisingly, Ethan's soccer pal, Kelsey, and her family were at the same beach. What are the chances of them being in the same part of the beach at the same time we were there--2.5 hours from home! It was fun to see them.
Since the tide was out, there was a large tide pool on the beach that Annemarie thoroughly enjoyed playing in!! We found shells, barnacles, snails and little crabs. The tide pool was much warmer than the frigid Atlantic, so Annie hung out in the tide pool much of the time.In the late afternoon the tide started to come in and the tidal pool disappeared, but we enjoyed the big waves. Well, most of us did. Annie kept running away from them.
On our way home, we stopped at the restaurant I used to stop at as a little girl. It was great! Fresh seafood and lots of ice cream! The perfect ending to our day.
It was the type of day where we could forget all about construction loans, student loans, health insurance and work, and just enjoy God's beautiful creation and each other. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of this day.

Hottie on the beach!

Ethan in silhouette and sand

Our Little Mermaid -- not!

Ummm, what is he looking at!?!