The Big Transition

It's official. We have a new toddler in the house. Adrian has been walking for a few weeks, but yesterday he really crossed the threshold from infancy to toddlerhood. He learned to climb, suddenly. So, we found him in the dryer and in the bathtub, having gotten there because he wanted to!

It really was adorable and cute, but it's a little disconcerting too. I don't want him to grow up. I'm agonizing over his first birthday next month. I *love* having a baby in the house. Babies require lots of love, but not so much discipline. It's a sweet, innocent relationship that I could foster forever.

So, I'm tickled that he's finding his way around and learning new things. I'm just having a hard time letting go. I can feel the baby fever already.

Homeschool Wackos...

A few days ago, a Michigan newspaper published the following article:

Homeschool Wackos

The article was a bit insulting, no doubt. Many apologies were given. The school district, newspaper, and even emergency services offered their regrets. However, in the eyes of the offended, Mr. Daniel Stout fell a few marbles short of a real apology.

This is what he had to say:
In the world today Homeland security is very a important issue. The
training of our nation to respond to the many threats we face is of
utmost
importance. As part of a full scale homeland security exercise on
September 21, 2004 in Muskegon, I wrote about a fictional group and
fictional scenario for the exercise. This fictional group and scenario
made
reference to fictional people who are against schools. This fictional
group
and scenario was not meant to offend any home school students. It has
nothing to do with any home school population. Home school students and
former students are a very important part of our nation. This scenario
will not be used again.

Daniel Stout
Muskegon County Emergency Services

I see no real concession of guilt here, by any means. However, Mr. Stout does make some effort to appease the crazed masses that objected to his Wacko Terrorist group. Unfortunately, in his failed attempt, he drove them to a higher level of determination. Every homeschooling forum on the Internet has been in some level of disarray over not only the inital article which appeared in the Muskegon County paper, but Mr. Stout's purported apology.

Even as a homeschooling mom, I confess to finding this whole situation somewhat interesting. I had a bleak moment of offense to the article, followed by a much heartier chuckle. The reaction to Stout's response was, to me, bemusing and a bit ironic.

There appears to be few things quite like the wrath of a group of impetuous homeschooling parents. Oftentimes, I, too, am one of these parents. But, over this somewhat trivial event, I, instead, took a front row seat and watched. I saw firsthand how quick we are to defend ourselves, and our families' decisions. It's not easy to go against the grain. It's even harder when the off-handed insults are being thrown our way. Yet, I'm not sure that wasting valuable time to defend ourselves against the petty offenses like that committed by Muskegon Emergency Services, is really worth our cause.

I don't mind being "that lady that homeschools her kids" or even "the woman that rarely leaves her house" but I don't want to turn into "that fanatic lady that's always ready to come out with guns blazing."

I take pride in my decision to educate my children, but I don't need the world to know it. I feel validated in seeing my son's progress, not in how many letters I can write to the press or to my senators. I think the more we throw ourselves out there and the more flagrant we are with our choice, the more vulnerable we become to criticism. <>I also think that if we throw all caution to the wind, we're likely to be considered "Homeschool Wackos".

Block City

Jordan just memorized his first poem! I'm very pleased, and he is too. He loves the poem, and finds it very easy to relate to. It's amazing how much information those little brains can hold. Here's the poem we did: Block City From Child's Garden of Verses What are you able to build with your blocks? Castles and palaces, temples and docks. Rain may keep raining, and others go roam, But I can be happy and building at home. Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea, There I'll establish a city for me: A kirk and a mill and a palace beside, And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride. Great is the palace with pillar and wall, A sort of a tower on the top of it all, And steps coming down in an orderly way To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay. This one is sailing and that one is moored: Hark to the song of the sailors aboard! And see, on the steps of my palace, the kings Coming and going with presents and things! Yet as I saw it, I see it again, The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men, And as long as I live and where'er I may be, I'll always remember my town by the sea.

Sweet Dreams

Yesterday was a fairly typical day. We did school, read, cleaned, and cooked. In the evenings, sometime between 7 and 8 pm, Christopher usually takes the boys to bed. I've always been most appreciative of this. By that time, I'm generally ready to watch a good movie or take a nice hot bath. Since he was busy, Chris asked that I put the boys to bed last night.

"Sure," I replied. I didn't mind. And so the routine began. Teeth were brushed, water was served, bottles and diapers readied. Adrian went down first. Catching my lingering glance towards the bookshelf, Jordan asked for a story. We chose Green Eggs and Ham for Cayden and decided to start Unc' Billy Possum for Jordan. The boys snuggled up beneath the covers on Jordan's bed, and I read until their eyes were droopy. It felt good. I realized that it was something I had been missing. I thought I was entitled to *my* time at night, and I think I am. I never considered what I was missing. I also think it's good to send the boys off with thoughts of storyland. Hopefully it'll keep their dreams safe. If they dare to go to Seuss land, chaos may reign, but it's better than any frightful alternative!

Oh!

Christopher read my blog yesterday. He basically said it was pretty mundane and boring. Well, I have no problem with the mundane. I was a little hurt that he said it was boring, but I reminded myself that, even while it’s a public blog, it’s *my* blog. I could work on spicing it up some, but for the most part, I like what I write. It’s *me*.

Love Bugs...

As time goes on, and my visions become more clear, I feel impressed to do whatever it takes to foster a love for learning in my children. I want them to make an effort to learn about the things that interest them, and the things that interest others. I make a point to tell Jordan, "Let's look it up." We use the internet as a "home library."

So, it was to my great amusement and delight when I finally saw the rewards of my efforts. Jordan had been standing near the house watching some bugs in action. Finally, he made his way over to me, as I was sitting outside on my swing.
"Mom," he began, most matter-of-factly, "we've got to study love bugs."
Love bugs?
"Okay," I said, non-chalantly.
Exterminate comes to mind at this moment.
"Yeah, we have to," Jordan pressed on. "We have to find out why they're always stuck together...."

My Love Affair...

A wondrous love affair. He's sweet, gentle, loving, and precious. He has beautiful blue eyes that melt my very core. His smile brings warmth through my heart, and a tingle in my soul. His name is Adrian, and he's my 11 month old son.

Don't get me wrong, I love all my kids...till it hurts. But right now, watching our latest little blessing grow is so... intense. I can't take my lips off his sweet little cheeks. I could gaze into his eyes *forever*, watching him suck his two middle fingers into oblivion. Even though he's enjoying his newfound ability to walk nearly wherever he pleases, he still finds plenty of time to sit with me, play peek a boo, and giggle on his own accord. I love the attention and, even though I've already mentioned, the smiles.

I'm so very thankful to be a mom. I love holding their hands in mine. Adrian's are so tiny, still. Cayden's are too, really. He's a slender little thing. Jordan isn't much for holding hands, but he still loves to be attacked by the "Kissy monster".

And since I've mentioned Jordan...

Let it be known, that during our run from Hurricane Ivan, my six year old son was indeed playing *BARBIES* with his little friend, Gracie. Why is this brag-worthy, you ask? Because, until this moment in History transpired, it seemed that I had the most sexist child on the planet. "Girls don't do that," or the even worse, "Girls *can't* do that," he'd often say. He seemed quite certain that we were lesser creatures put his for his occasional amusement, and mostly just to cook, clean, and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So, I really was thrilled that he decided to play with Grace instead of her 3 older brothers. Grace seemed to enjoy it as well, although she wasn't overly amused with his unskilled ability to handle a Barbie. I admit to feeling some bit of pride when she heaved a big sigh and said, "You don't do it that way!" There are some things he's not *supposed* to be good at.

The Great Pyramid Brings Big Smiles...

I always considered myself a fairly intelligent woman. Perhaps it was this confidence that allowed me the peace of mind about homeschooling the boys.

Somehow, through my years of school, I never took a World History class. I never really cared about it, either. Until recently, that is. I'm betting the World News is much more interesting when you know where Iraq and Iran are, and why we're in the various predicaments we're in.

Jordan and I started studying World History this year. Bless his heart. He's only 6, and yet I was determined to pour fountains of information into his little mind. But, it was *I* who was learning the most. Oh, he's getting it, alright. But, now, I'm starting to feel like an Egyptologist. We've been journeying up the Nile River, fighting the kings of Lower Egypt, fending off the plagues of the Gods and watching the rise of The Great Pyramid.

All the while, our heads bent together as we embark on our newest journey, I see the sweetest of it all. 2 dimples, upturned lips, and eyes sparkling with fascination. The greatest of these being the smile. Victory! Sweet Victory!

We're Baaack....

Like I said in my first post, "If I keep up past 10 posts, my darling husband is sure to be impressed. " I'm inclined to think the man knows me well. You see, I tend to start projects often. Inspired by some new idea, I dive right in. I just don't always finish them. In this case, I got sidetracked by... life. But, it's life that I want to write about, so here I am once again. We've started school. Jordan and Cayden are both doing great! Jordan is looking forward to building the Great Pyramid today. He and his dad are going to be making a replica of this awesome creation with sugar cubes. It's amazing that words like Mesopotamia, Mediterranean, and sarcophagus are now a part of his regular vocabulary. We've been studying acient Egypt for about 2 weeks now, and he's like a sponge! Cayden is learning shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. He's going to be another very smart little blessing. I'm getting excited about the potential in all of my children. I love the journey we're all taking together.

Jul. 15, 2004 - Treasure Hunting...

It all started with a trip to the Thrift Store. I was on a quest for school books for Jordan. There were hundreds to choose from, so I made a comfortable little spot on the floor, and dove in. Workbooks were abundant, but I didn't find much. Most of the other material was geared towards a higher grade level. I felt really lucky when I came across a few Usborne books and tossed them into the cart. Adrian, the baby, was with me, and found the book tossing quite amusing. That usually ended in a big grin and even the occasional chuckle. Little did he know, he too would someday be chided as he learned to study and learn the things that would make him a successful man one day.

I waded through more books, and found a couple on the Romans. This would good, as it would go quite nicely with the "Stories of the World" I had purchased for History. I also managed to get a book on Trappers and Traders, Pioneering, and a few other history related gems.

The quest was still on as I searched for science books. Per the teaching method we are using, I wanted some nice books on animals. Whatever animals that Jordan might enjoy, and I didn't think something like a muskrat was going to keep his interest very long. So, I dug and dug, and Adrian watched in fascination as a few books were lucky enough to make the cart. Bingo! There it was, shining back at me. A book on Spiders. Now, they give me the willies and chills, but Jordan, a 6 year old, would *love* it. So, naturally, I bought it. Filled with colorful pages of various spiders, and their types of webs, it was a treasure chest of information. I was delighted to bring it home. I began to think of different activities and crafts that we might be able to do; none involving *real* spider watching, mind you.

It was no surprise that this book was Jordan's favorite book. He wanted to read it immediately. I opened the cover, and a large Wolf Spider stared back at me as I began to read the words on the page. Jordan's eyes danced across the colorful spread as he pointed at this and that. His little brother, Cayden, peeked over his shoulder. After the book was all done, Jordan narrated a few short sentences back to me, which we put in his notebook. He even colored a great picture of a Silver Garden spider on an orb web. He thought the orb webs were very cool because, "That's what Spiderman has". Okay. Enough about Super Heroes already. I was diligent about keeping his mind on track.

This morning, he's up and about, drawing pictures of Spiders. Maybe he'll even remember to give them 8 eyes. I watch him from afar, and I smile to myself. This is what education is about. I found a little gem, and he's enjoying the heck out it.

Jul. 14, 2004 - Power of a Praying Mom?

Jul. 14, 2004 - Power of a Praying Mom?

I'm a Christian. I love the Lord. I just...don't talk to him enough. I don't even talk to him every day, or sometimes I've even went a *week*. I say this shamefully, because I believe there is power in prayer. So, early last week I started having this nagging feeling. Thoughts of my future (way, way in the future) daughter-in-laws raced through my mind. How odd it was, to picture my 6 year old with a wife! So, this went on for a day or two, and then the voice was clear. PRAY. Oh, my. I was overwhelmed, at best. Pray for little girls I didn't even know, or who may or may not yet exist. Pray for their families, the mothers that have or have not even brought these precious gems into existence at this time. My mind whirled, but my heart grew, filling with love and protectiveness over these babies who would, one day, mother my grandchildren. It was awesome, in every sense of the word. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this burden. So, I prayed. I prayed for the girls, their mothers and fathers, and their grandparents. I prayed protection over them, and guidance for those who would raise my daughter-in-laws. I prayed that God would prepare them, just the same as my sons, to be mighty and strong in His ways. The love I felt for these children was overwhelming. A true gift. It was almost tangible, and now I long to nurture it. Someday, it will be a story to share with them, but for now it is a gift I will cherish. An unexpected love. For I believe that the Lord has laid out the task, and I shall fulfill his request. Surely, there is power in the prayers of a praying mom...

Jul. 13, 2004 - Nothing like Java

Jul. 13, 2004 - Nothing like Java

I woke up this morning, a familiar rumbling in my pooch of a tummy. My thoughts went to my own breakfast as I mindlessly went through the motions of setting up two bowls of King Vitamin for the kids. Low carb, low calorie, low carb, low calorie... Toast or eggs? The daily decision. Lately, I've been fooling myself into thinking I was eating low calorie, a nice change from the daily grind of meat and eggs. But, hey, how low calorie can two ice cream cones be? Or, a large dinner roll nicely covered with melted butter? Watermelon is probably a good treat, but a HALF of a watermelon? I'm thinking I'm really not on the right track, here. The kids gobbled up their King Vitamin, without looking even a hair heavier than they did, but I'm really not interested in an unsweetned, cardboard version of Captain Crunch, although I'm thankful that they enjoy it. The homemade bread from last night's dinner is still beckoning me as it sits, convieniently, by the toaster. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the Blackberry jam magically appeared next to the butter dish. I could start fresh this morning. Eggs and sausage for breakfast, tuna for lunch, and a generous helping of pork chops and broccoli for dinner. Pure Atkins delight. Or, I could succumb to the toast, and whatever else comes my way. Moderation is the key, right? The beep of the coffee pot sends my thoughts catapulting right out the window. The smell of the dark roast beans suddenly awaken my sense of smell. Nothing beats a good cup of java. Pass the cream, please.

Jul. 13, 2004 - Introduction

Jul. 13, 2004 - Introduction

So, I started a blog. If I keep up past 10 posts, my darling husband is sure to be impressed. I love to write. I used to be good at it, too. I just stopped taking the time to write, and so now I'm pretty tarnished.

Anyway,

I'm Sunshyne, a domestic engineer. I run a small family consisting of myself, 3 adorable boys and a great husband. We also have 4 cats. 3 live inside, and then there's the stray, who isn't really stray anymore. She likes to stay outside, though, and this is fine with us! We live in Pass Christian, near the beach. We're a fairly normal family, and we love being home and hanging out together. With three boys, who needs entertainment? (Don't ask about my cable bill. )

Jordan is my oldest son, and he's 5. He's in the first grade, and I'm his teacher. He absolutely loves being homeschooled, and is very smart! Cayden, age 2, is my middle child. Spunky, expressive, and challenging are the top three words that come to mind. Oh, and he's very cute, too. He looks like his dad. Sweet little Adrian is the baby of the gang, and he's almost 9 months old. He's got a few wisps of white hair, pretty blue eyes, and a smile that can melt any old lady. *smile*

The leader of the family, who really is worthy of much more than just the *third* paragraph, is Christopher, my husband. From here on, he shall be named Chris, "C", or even DH, and if I'm in a really eloquent mood, I'll call him Christopher. So... Christopher and I have been married for nearly 3 years, although it seems like yesterday, and the honeymoon is just barely underway, and nowhere near ending. We're very happy, and quirky, and we like it that way. He's a "gamer" and buys all the good games(or so he says). He also enjoys watching TV, like the rest of us(again, don't ask about the cable bill). We have lots of fun together just doing a whole bunch of nothing. It works for us.

Okay, so the main characters are all introduced. Oh, and the cats are: Daddy Cat AKA Scabbers, Aslan AKA Anubis, and Violet, who has no alias. The other cats have aliases because their names....evolved. Oh, and Belle, the not-so-stray, lives outside. She's *my* cat.

Well, that's all for an intro. I hope to post more soon.

Good Night.