I realize what I have got

Shannon and Camden went on a "boy's trip" to Arkansas to see Shannon's grandma. Shannon's dad and brother met them there and they are having a hum-dinger-of-a-time!! I don't know if you have ever experienced Arkansas, but it is one you would NEVER forget nor want to repeat!!

Shannon's grandma Hogan has Alzheimer's and lives in a nursing home. She really isn't that bad, but she can't be left alone because she looses stuff constantly!! She mixes people's names up and asks the same questions several times a day. It really quite funny . . . comic relief!! She hates the nursing home! It is full of invalid elderly people that sit around and do nothing. Grandma is up and moving all the time!!

She lives in Hardy. It's a tiny little town!! She talks about how people are moving in like crazy and building stuff . . . but I think she means the McDonalds, Taco Bell, and KFC!! That and Walmart are the high lights of the town!! Shannon said they went to Walmart 2 times the first day they got there!! It is Grandma's favorite place to go. She loves to shop . . . and buy lots of junk that we don't need and give it to all of us as gifts!! Sweet, huh? Well, her whole family lives there and they have since the beginning of time!! She tells all kinds of stories about that place as you drive down the road.

Shannon's dad wanted to try and save some money and not stay 5 nights in a hotel, so he booked a resort that is just outside of town!! He said it was half the price of the only hotel in town, so they gave it a try!! Shannon says that the "resort" is a hum-dinger too!! He says it's a little old 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom house that creaks and squeaks at every move. He says that you can hear everything through the walls, including Grandma's terrible coughing (just like a smoker's cough because Grandpa smoked in the house for 50+ years). So he isn't sleeping much!! (I forgot to say that Grandma is staying at the resort with the boys. It's like her vacation away from the nursing home!! She hates it there!)

This is Camden sending me some love from the great state of Arkansas!!

The fun part is that they boys are going fishing, golfing, and creekin' (that is the official Hogan term for looking for critters in the creek!). They are having a blast and Grandma is tagging along to each event! Camden is having a blast because he LOVES everything BOY and messy and gross!! He is keeping everyone in stitches!! Whenever they are creekin' or fishing Camden is the first one to fall in the water and get as wet and messy as possible!! It's a little boys dream!!

I am at home with my oldest and youngest Munchkins! We are bonding in different ways, of course! We made lots of sweets in the kitchen and on Monday we are going to make a "Welcome Home" cake for Daddy! Carley has been keeping me company in bed at night and we have been staying up till about 11 and even eating snacks in bed!! (She thought that was so cool!)

But in the end . . . I miss my Hunny!! Since he works from home now, we are pretty much always together!! We talk about everything and nothing all at the same time!! He is the source of laughter in this house and the source of silliness!! I just miss him!! I hate it when I put something down . . . and it's there when I get back to it!! No one has moved it because no one is here!! I am looking forward to seeing his face on Monday evening when he gets home!!

How do you learn to SOCIALIZE anyway??

Those that are not familiar with homeschooling usually believe the stereotypical lie that homeschoolers don't have an opportunity to socialize. They believe that school is the place where children can learn to interact with others and learn the "social skills" that are necessary to live a complete, healthy life. They may never stop to think about the people in life that you know or have met that went to school, but who are completely unsocial or anti-social. You have seen then in your own school days; all alone in the corner of the cafeteria, the one that is so rude and has no social graces, the one that chews with his mouth open at lunch and makes a spectacle of himself. They exist as adults in the work place and in other social settings.

Most of the time, those unsocialized folks weren't homeschooled. They are people that are simply not taught at home how to interact with the world around them in a socially acceptable way.

There is one child that I know who is very unsocialized and that child has been in school/daycare since birth. The child is in "survival mode" making sure that no gets the child's stuff or takes the child's seat. The child carries stuff around all day long so no one will take it. The child yells at other children in order to get away with things or get the point across, so that someone will hear what this little one is trying to say. This child is mean. Sharing is not the norm and is very difficult. The world revolves around this child and everyone is expected to know that. I know for a fact that I have only seen the surface of what this child is capable of socially.

If parents expect the school system, public or otherwise, to teach their children how to socialize PROPERLY, there are going to be kids that are lacking in so many areas of life because this area of socializing affects so much. A teacher with 30 kids in a classroom should not be expected to teach your kids how to play nice, share nice, or talk nice. That is OUR responsibility . . . the parents of said children.

So, that is what I do . . . I teach my kids how to interact with other children of different ages, not just their own age. We actually talk about certain scenarios and how they might act or interact. When we have people over, we talk about the proper way to treat a guest. When my kids go to someone else's house we talk about acceptable social behavior. Since I have them at home with me, especially while they are young, I can be there for them when they are in a situation and need help figuring out what to do, socially. I don't call this tattling . . . . I call it teaching.

As a homeschool family, our opportunities to socialize are enormous. Sometimes I have to tell the kids, "Ok guys time to stop socializing! We need to get some school done!!"

My whole point is . . . I don't want someone else teaching my kids how to socialize. I want to do it!! I am so glad that God has given me the opportunity!! It is my life's most exciting adventure!!

What a NIGHT!!

Last night no one wanted me to sleep!! If it wasn't me getting up to go to the bathroom, it was one of the kids!! I went to bed early becasue I was so exhausted. It was a busy day!!

At 2:20AM Carter woke up and had peed the bed! I got him all situated and back to sleep and then I went back to bed. I am feeling a little sinus stuffiness come on, so I laid in bed and sneezed and tossed and turned for an hour!! Then I heard Carter make more noise! I thought he was not sleeping yet and so I dreaded going in to settle him. But I went in to check on him and he was sound asleep. (Wish I was!)

I got up and went to the computer to try and blow off some steam. (I was MAD!) After an hour or so of doing a little bit of surfing, I decided to go back to bed. I laid there for another 20 min or so, tossing and turning, when I was almost alseep. That is when Carter yelled out, "MOMMY!" I turned to my Beloved and asked him to go and check on the baby! Thankfully he did! He stayed in there and laid in bed with him till morning.

So . . . there I am again . . . wide awake!! Just as I drift off to sleep I hear, "Mom, I had a bad dream!" Carley was upset so I told her to hop in bed with me (Because Daddy was still in Carter's bed!) and she was fast aleep in no time! I laid there trying to tell myself that it was going to light soon and if I don't get some sleep I will be an sight for sore eyes in the morning!!

I did finally fall alseep. It was a night of chaos and mishapes and that is what I call being a "Parent!" Sometimes the rewards are so great and sometimes the "rewards" are not so great!! Getting a good night sleep is always a plus, but that didn't happen last night!! Oh well . . . there is always tonight! I hope things go a little more as planned for a regular night's sleep!!

Hedge Of Protection . . . . is that the best you've got?

our first event

I think it went well!! Last night was the first event that we have had this year and that I have had since becoming the group's president. The event last night was different than what we have had in the past, but people came and hung out and had a lot of fun!! I had many people come and tell me that I did a great job and I humbly say Thank You!! But in all honesty, I couldn't have done it without the team that I had in place to assist. You all were so amazing!! Thanks a bunch!

The homeschool group at the church, is an awesome bunch of families to be a part of!! I am very proud to be part of such a close group. Thanks to all who came out and listened to me talk!! I am looking forward to lots more fun and excitement this year!!