Time Flies

Greg and I were looking at our calendar thinking that we would have some free weekends with nothing to do in November. Yes! No sooner were the words said, then the time suddenly filled up! Oh well, comme si comme sa and c'est la vie!

The Christmas tree farm will eat up a lot (read ALL) of our December weekends too, so even though Halloween is still a day away, I'd better get my Christmas shopping done!

Season Over!

Two sports tried, how many more to go. Joey really liked t-ball this spring, but soccer not so much. Yesterday he played his last game of the season, but his favorite part was sitting on the "bench" and eating the snacks. A boy after my own heart! We're thinking about signing up for basketball in a couple of weeks, but aren't committed to it quite yet.



Joey does really enjoy Cub Scouts. Last night he and Greg went on their first Cub Scout campout. After setting up camp at a fellow scout's house in Newtonsville, Joey, Greg, and some other members of their pack joined a host of scouts at Spook-a-Ree at Cub Scout Adventure World in Loveland. I was specifically not invited, but that's okay-I did laundry:( The boys had lots of fun, although Greg said it's not like scouting when he was a kid. I guess lots of other boys stayed up LATE and were running around. Not our boy-he was out around 10:00. Thankfully Greg did take a few pictures-3- so I could see what I missed since neither Greg nor Joey went into much detail about their adventure. Boy bonding was good for them though and a little alone time was okay for me! Joey is the alien-scary!

Mirror, Mirror

I finally finished this book. Gregory Macguire is definitely creative. I found Mirror, Mirror to be much more disturbing than Wicked-those Borgias! Macguire admits to taking creative license with the history of the Borgia family, especially Lucretia, but if even half of what he wrote is true...Yikes! And Dee thought I'd never finish!

Family Time

Our family Halloween party was last night. The pumpkin party was downsized this year-the drought did a number on Dad's pumpkin patch. Joey and Alyson really only need each other at this point. The two of them get along like nobody's business. Sophie and Rachel are starting to become buds as well. I guess that leaves Jay and Maria-she should be here within the month.
Last night, the family discussion was happiness: Do we feel it? All present agreed that happiness is different for each one of us, but that we're all pretty happy with the choices that led us to the life each of us now enjoys. I got a mushy feeling inside when Greg, being his usual smart-alecky self, talked about how he didn't want a wife, a kid, a dog, or a house, but got them all and now has a perfect life. Awwwwww!

Reading Aloud

I am very proud of the way that Joey is learning to read aloud. Greg claims his 2 minutes of teaching Joey how to "sound it out" is responsible, but I have my doubts. Usually we will sit together and read his basal (reading book) story of the week and also his Accelerated Reader (AR) book for the week. This way I can see the words and how Joey attacks those words. On subsequent days, Joey reads to me from the back seat of the car. My memory stinks, but Joey's stories are short/simple enough that I can remember what he is supposed to be reading. So far this method has proved to work-good grades for Joey, better memory for Mom.
Catechism continues to...work. As a professional teacher, I think I worry more about this. I am not used to being Joey's official teacher for anything. I mean, I know I am supposed to teach him manners, how to get along with others, and other morality lessons, but actually "teaching" my own son? Not something I have ever planned on doing! So far, though it seems to work for us. I am being constantly reminded, however, why I do not teach the lower grade levels. They're sweet, but...wow, that attention span!
Greg asked me why I bother blogging. Do I really have that high an opinion of myself? Do I think people care what I/we are doing? Quite frankly, none of those reasons explain my need for blogging. I love to write, and whether or not I am good at it, this allows me to creatively (or not) express myself. In the meantime, this specific blog also allows me to communicate with people with whom it may not otherwise be easy to do so. If you want to know what we(I) feel is important, read this. If not, log off now!

Going to the Dogs!

Greg's side of the family is really going to the dogs:) After losing much-loved pets, both Carole and Lois recently added to their respective families. Carole's new puppy Maggie Mae resembles her predecessor Max according to Greg. If that's in temperament as well as looks, then all is well. Lucy Lou, Lois's new puppy, even likes Barnaby and doesn't chew gas lines. It's looking good for the newest members of the family!

We went to a Halloween party last night-our first costume party of the season. Joey created his own "Freaky Bug" costume with three eyes (five if you count his own). He was very careful to conjure a costume that might be freaky, but wouldn't freak out Jay. I, on the other hand, DID freak out Jay-at least when he first woke up to a creature out of Dawn of the Dead (in my dreams). Okay, so I was going for the Goth girl/zombie/fashion victim look...Some called me Death. I also managed to "freak" out my six year old! Always an accomplishment! At least I tried, unlike my husband the Hawaiian (take an Irish/German/Polish dude with a tan, throw on a Hawaiian shirt, a shark necklace, and some shorts-you get the picture).

For those of you who think teachers have it easy, let me explain how I spent my Sunday (besides blogging). Writing lesson plans...1 hour. Grading papers...2 hours. Dreaming activities while trying to sleep...priceless! I love when the ideas come at night, at least when I can remember them. Some times though, it does not make for a restful night!

This week I started teaching Joey and a friend (or two) catechism after school. I was really worried about teaching my own son. I know some people do teach their own children, but Joey and I spend A LOT of time together, and I wasn't sure that more time would be quality time. Plus, my job is...teaching! Did I really want to spend my time with Joey doing what I do for a living? Guess what? I loved it and so did he (at least that's what he told ME)! I do love my son AND I do love teaching-maybe it's the best of both worlds.
Anyway, this week we'll continue learning about creation (last week-light, dark, things in the sky; this week-separation of land and sea, maybe the addition of plants). All I know is that there WILL be a craft. The boys tried to patient through the singing (to the tune of "London Bridge") and the reading (a much simplified explanation of scripture), but were way into the craft. We made mobiles of the sun, moon, stars, and clouds:) Searching for crafts on the Internet is very interesting-at least considering the difference in religious components. I need to be very specific which creation theory I am teaching!

The too cute moment of the week was today! Joey loves to help cook, but we haven't been cooking much at our house unless you count frozen pizza:) Trying to use up ingredients that needed some love, Joey and I made potato soup. The cute part? He brought a notebook and patiently wrote down each ingredient so that the next time he could make it himself and I would not have to get out my cookbook. Top Chef anyone?