Four Months Out

Tomorrow marks four months since J has been in traditional school.

It's gone by really fast. I still feel a bit ass-over-tea-kettle in the planning department, but I'm hanging in there the best I can. Planning and preparation aren't necessarily hard so much as there are just a lot of moving parts to keep in the air. I can certainly see the desire, nay the need to keep everyone on the same page in a bricks & mortar school. Again, my hat is off to public school teachers.

When J first started homeschooling we said that we'd make the decision year by year. We knew the 2011-2012 academic year would be at home. We also knew he'd be at home for the 2012-2013 school year. The other day he told me he's is so much happier at home and that he'd prefer to homeschool through graduation. Of course I'll give him the freedom to change his mind, but he seems pretty adamant. We shall see.

Z has been homeschooling only since mid-February. Even though I worried about him missing out on the "fun" part of school I really think he's happier homeschooling. He still gets an attitude from time to time, but he's relaxed considerably from his time in a classroom environment. I loved his teacher. He loved his teacher. And even with all that love floating about I still think bringing him home when we did was the best choice for our family. There was nothing to be gained by keeping him in standardized testing environment. Needless stress.

The other reason I'm glad I pulled Z earlier than I had planned is because after The Test all the attention would be in the direction of the transition to middle school. We knew he wouldn't be attending the middle school so what was the point in him having to sit through the presentations and the forms and the tours. Waste of time for his situation.

I do feel a little sad when I think about the traditions that J took part in that Z won't do. On the other hand, Z is doing really cool stuff that J didn't experience when he was that age. Field trips and movies in the middle of the day. Reading on the porch swing and trying new recipes in the name of science. It's a trade off.

We are blessed.

Progress

Our seedlings are coming along so nicely. The Serrano peppers are taking off, but the cilantro is taking it's sweet time. Cilantro has always been a bit testy with me so I'm curious if we're going to be able to pull off growing from seed.

Serranos to the left, tomatoes in the middle and cilantro on the right.

Guess what? Lizard butt! Oh, I crack myself up. Actually I think that's a gecko on that palm tree. We went to T and C's house for the monthly gathering of Ladies Who Lunch and their Children Who Must Remain Upstairs. When we were leaving Z spotted this guy taking a stroll. We thought for a brief moment about taking him home with us and then though, um, NO.

He wouldn't turn around to get his face. Sorry. 

Mostly we left Gus (no reason not to name the little darling even if we didn't bring him home) because we already had a sloth at home. And by sloth I mean The World's Laziest Cat. He should really be more ashamed, but he can't be bothered.

Don't let our learning get in your way, Lucky.

Lockhart field trip

Ah, Texas History. A vital part of the education of any youth. So important in fact, that a whole year is dedicated to the history and geography of Texas in the public schools. So as to ensure that MY youth are not left behind we are exploring towns in Central Texas and learning first hand about the history of the area. 

The courthouse in the town square. It just doesn't get any more small town than this picturesque building. 

One cool thing about this courthouse, aside from the architecture and history, is that it was used in the film Where the Heart Is (one of the movies I watch every time I come across it on television). We learned that the building is built out of limestone and red sandstone. 

We also learned that some guy donated a plaque to honor another guy who donated six flags to Lockhart. Sometimes when you're a small town you've got to reach for the history. Good on 'em, I say.

Z, C and J on the steps of the Lockhart courthouse. 

We took in the historical monuments of the area. This one is a tribute to those that served in the armed forces. The bricks that line the pathway up to the door bear the names of significant people (or people who paid to buy the bricks, that part wasn't clear). Do you see C reading all the bricks in the background? These are history-seeking boys I'm telling you.

J's pointing at the Marines emblem for Mac and our cousin Joey.

Are you buying any of this?


So what's the real reason people go to Lockhart? Barbecue of course! This time we went to Kreuz (it's pronounce Crites iffn' you were wondering).  Look there it says 1900 right on the sign. If that isn't history I don't know what is.

Lockhart also boasts Black's and Smitty's, but at Kreuz you eat off butcher paper without forks and sans sauce. We thought that would appeal to the boy's inner caveman. 

Brisket, sausage and ribs with bread and pickles. That's it. That's all you need.

Yes, it really was as delicious as it looks. Just ask the boys.

Oh and after lunch we walked around town square. We went into the town's oldest pharmacy with a curio case that had original prescriptions, bottles and tools of the trade from the store. You know, before all that DEA brouhaha. We ducked into a sewing and quilt shop too, but the boys aren't very happy to recall that part of the trip.


We also visited an antique shop and the owner talked to the boys about the building. The original signage from the turn of two centuries ago (late 1800's) was on the exposed brick in charcoal. The owner told the boys that charcoal was the paint of that time period. Charcoal and whitewash which was used for fences and houses. History and Art, baby!


To cap off the day we headed over to Dairy Queen. There is nothing quite like a treat at a small town Dairy Queen. Another awesome field trip day in the books.

An Unforseen Benefit of Homeschooling

By far my most favorite part of homeschooling is the morning routine. We never had time to sit down and have breakfast or talk about our intentions for the day. Now the boys sleep in until about 9:00 a.m., get started on chores and turn to lessons by 10:00 a.m.

But before they get started on their day first Mommy needs her coffee.

My reusable ceramic coffee cup bought at a garage sale.

How awesome is it that part of the morning routine is J making my coffee? Pretty dang awesome I tell you.

Ladies Who Lunch

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend.


On Thursday we had our monthly "Ladies Who Lunch" gathering. This is a time for several of us moms to get together and Tracy makes lunch for us while we drink wine and the homeschoolers play upstairs. Everyone looks forward to it and very few miss the meeting because if you're not present then you're on the agenda. Which means we get to talk about you. It's in the rules.


J stayed over night because he could. You've got to love a mid-week sleepover. Z and I headed home where he, J and The Banker all played Minecraft. I think there were other homeschoolies sharing Zombie meat (don't ask), but those three I know for sure. Finally everyone went to bed because we took Day 5 as a movie day. J and The Banker went to see Wrath of the Titans. Another homeschooling mom took her kid and Z to the movies. Everyone met up and had fun while I worked. Nice, huh? Still I'm very pleased the we are building our homeschooling village after we left our PTA village behind in public school.


Reasons, seasons and lifetimes. Once again that old friendship adage holds true.