Taking the TOG Plunge

When we first started homeschooling, I did what my neighbor did.  She followed The Well Trained Mind with her only daughter.  I was able to buy her old curriculum and get started with the Crafter.

As the years went by, things changed.  The first to go was Saxon Math.  We replaced it with Singapore.  Then we used Rod and Staff Grammar instead of ABeka.  Spelling Power replaced Spelling Workout, and then Spelling Workout returned as a supplement.   Science was a hodge podge of this and that with some Apologia here, some God's Design there, and a host of smaller topic studies.

The only curriculum in the original line-up that we still use is  The Story of the World.  That too is changing this year.  We are taking the Tapestry of Grace (TOG) plunge.  I came to the conclusion that I need more planning to be done for me.   I need the multiple levels and the multiple subjects coordinated for me.

I fought TOG for a long time.  I thought that I could do it myself by following The Well Trained Mind.   I balked at the cost of $400+ each year.  The Historian balked even louder at the cost of $400+ each year.  And the size and scope of it scared me.

I did my best, but  subjects kept slipping through the cracks.   Wild Thing started school, and more started slipping.  I no longer had the time to seek out projects and literature to go with history.  Art and music never happened.  Finally, I caved and ordered year 3.  The Crafter will ride the line between upper grammar and dialectic and Wild Thing will be in lower grammar.  Princess Pink will tag along.  Wish us luck.

The Creek Out Back

I Must Brag

Congratulations Crafter!!!

She earned a Silver Medal on The National Mythology Exam!

Glitter Graphics

Dem Bones

Some Assembly Required

Princess Pink with the Skeleton

Mama, Can We Keep It?

Last year it was a giant beetle.  This year it's a mouse.  The Crafter managed to catch him/her in the back yard.  His name is Martin after the mouse hero of Redwall.  The Historian has already fixed him an aquarium with bedding, food, and water.  I'm feeling like a hypocrite because there's a mouse trap in the attic.

Martin Mouse

Then There Was the Time We Got Trapped in the Bathroom

I am not having the best of days.  Wednesday is theater day for the Crafter.  She is in a wonderful theater program in a town 45 minutes away.  It is so worth the trip.  It is even worth trying to keep Wild Thing and Princess Pink occupied while the Crafter is in class.  We have been fortunate the past few weeks.  After many, many, cold, rainy Wednesdays, we have been blessed with gorgeous spring weather.  We have been going to a nearby park to play.  And that's where today's story begins.

Wild Thing, Princess Pink, and I were having a lovely day at the park.  We saw some ducks,

and some turtles. 

The kids played on the swings.  Then Princess Pink got thirsty.  We walked to the restroom with our emergency cup.  (There's no water fountain at this park.)  The three of us walked in through the open door.  It was obviously broken.  We filled our cup in the sink.  Then I had the bright idea to actually use the restroom.  I told my children to stay where I could see their feet and to not touch the outside door.  Famous last words.  Wild Thing not only touched the door, he closed it, and he locked it. 

We were trapped.  I couldn't get the door to budge.  So naturally, I panicked.  I yelled for help.  No one came.  I tried calling 911 since the park is walking distance from the police station, but couldn't get an answer.  That wasn't comforting at all.  I tried yelling for help some more.  I called the Historian.  He was able to calm me down.   While he talked to me, I worked on the remains of the handle with my keys.  I know that it was God's hand that opened the door because nothing I did would have made it open.  Our twenty minute ordeal was finished, and we still managed to pick up the Crafter on time.

And Now It's Time for Deep Thoughts

by Wild Thing

"You know, it would be cool to have a kangaroo made out of mashed potatoes.  You could put gravy in the pouch."

"I don't think you should let monkeys watch The Wizard of Oz.  They might get ideas."

I love my kids.

Well What Do You Know?

I got a big surprise Friday.  I was selected this week's featured blogger.  Who would have thought that my oft neglected little blog would receive such an honor?  I am humbled.  Thanks for visiting my little corner of the internet.

Please Place the Item in the Bag

or Why I Hate Self Checkouts

It started out like any other day.  I was out and about running errands with the kids in tow.  We had already done the grocery shopping, but I remembered that I needed to make a sugar free dessert for a family gathering.   I needed one box of lemon flavored sugar-free Jello. 

I stop at the next grocery store.  It's not my usual grocery store, but I only need one thing.  "It's going to be a quick trip," I tell the children. We only need one box of sugar-free lemon Jello.  We go in.  We find the Jello.  We go to the checkout.  We're making record time. There is one lane open.  There are several very full carts waiting in that one line.  My spirits fall, but then I see it.  It's the self checkout.  It lures me with its promise of a quick purchase.  Alas, it had done me wrong before.  I recalled the trying to weigh the bananas incident of months past.  But this time would be different.  This time I only have one item. 

We approach the machine.  It greats me and asks for my customer loyalty card.  I scan the card and am rewarded with a pleasant beep.   Next it asks me to scan my item.  I scan.  It beeps.  It asks me to please place the item in the bag.  I place the item in the bag.  It asks me to please place the item in the bag.  Um, it's already in the bag.  I try to ignore it and push finish.  It says PLEASE PLACE THE ITEM IN THE BAG!  At least I thought it was getting louder.  I push finish again.  It says PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE CHECKOUT.  Here comes the cashier looking at me like I've done something wrong.  She tells me I have to put the item in the bag.  I show her my little box of Jello in the bag.  Apparently it was too light to register on the scale under the bag.  Meanwhile Princess Pink and Wild Thing are entertaining themselves by chasing each other in circles.

The cashier clears out the machine and rings my little 50 cent purchase at the front.  I am then reprimanded for attempting to use the self checkout on a light item or anything that doesn't need a bag.  I hang my head in shame and walk my family out of the grocery store.  As we exit, I notice that the once full line for the regular checkout is much shorter.  If only...

Wordless Wednesday

Dog Tired