My New Passion

40

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! I'M FORTY!!! I celebrated at the beach with my husband, kids, and good friends. It was a beautiful day and a great night. I love the summer! It's a good life. 

“Age is a matter of feeling, not of years.”

George William Curtis

Roller Derby Rocks!

SUMMER IS HERE

Last day of "school" was May 28th! Yay! I almost think I needed a break more than the kids although they would probably disagree. Last week was so great - we just hung out and did whatever. We actually started an 8 week ballroom dance class last week. There are about 5 families all learning the Waltz and probably the Cha-Cha. It was so much more fun than I anticipated. My husband and I have never taken a dance class so it's really about time. We had so much fun laughing at ourselves. The kids will also continue to take Chinese through July. And a couple of their other activities go all year round so we'll keep up with those. But I am looking forward to warm weather and beach days, the water park, and some summer camps. I love summer - it's my favorite time of year!

Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.  ~Author Unknown

The path that brought us here

Homeschooling is our life. It is a lifestyle. There is no separation of home and school. We live and we learn. As this school year comes to a close (end of May) I look back on the path that brought us here. 

I took the crooked path down homeschooling highway. I'm not one of those people who always thought they would homeschool. As a matter of fact, I received my California Teaching Credential in 1998. I thought I would stay home and raise my children and when they were school-age we would all go off to public school together hand in hand. The idea was that we would have the same schedule including vacation time. I thought it was the perfect career for a mother. Fast forward five years - my oldest enters kindergarten. We had been involved in a very loving co-op preschool for 2 years and now I needed to find a kindergarten that I felt just as good about. I began searching for a public school that would continue to honor his individuality and curiosity. His first kindergarten experience was at a dual immersion school. We lasted 5 weeks. Needless to say it didn't live up to my expectations. It was too reminiscent of the things I had read about in Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto. Yes, I was reading books about homeschooling before my children entered school because I needed to research all options. Even after all I had read I still wanted to give public school a chance. So we switched from the dual immersion program to a Waldorf inspired charter school. My son spent his kindergarten year (Oct-June) at this school. By the end of the year I knew that this school was not a good fit for us. They taught no academics and my son was starving for more direct instruction. 

What to do next? I considered homeschooling at this point but alas I felt I should give our neighborhood school a chance. My big dilemma at this point was whether to put him in the first grade or kindergarten again. He has a late summer birthday so he would be one of the youngest if I put him in first grade. Most people in my situation waited to put their kindergartners into school until they were 6 especially if they were boys. So I made my first big mistake...I put him in kindergarten at the neighborhood school. It was very clear from almost day one that he should have been in first grade. He was reading fluently, was very focused, and most importantly he was bored. As it turns out we had one of the worst teachers possible. She was obviously burnt out, didn't care to think outside the box, and seemed to have no real interest in the kids or what she was teaching. Realizing that we were in a dead end we did not return after Christmas break. 


This was our first time Homeschooling. I signed him up with our first homeschool program and moved him into the first grade. We homeschooled the spring semester of first grade and then the fall semester of second grade. I began to feel extremely overwhelmed as a stay at home mom with an infant, a preschooler, and a second grader. I decided one more time to put my oldest one in school. I begged the universe to please let this work because I felt like I was drowning in mommyhood. I needed a break. This second time around I didn't put my son into public school because I thought it was the best educational choice. I did it because I needed to breathe and I didn't know what else to do. He went to the neighborhood school for the rest of second grade and third grade. I really liked his second grade teacher. She was a little out there and I liked that. Of course, the other parents didn't like her and eventually she was driven out. Third grade was o.k. Homeschooling was always in the back of my mind but I wasn't ready to make that leap again. At this time my second son was in kindergarten at the same school but with a different kindergarten teacher than my first son had had. Son #2 had a really wonderful teacher. You could just tell that he loved teaching and loved hanging out with the kids. His heart was in it. We made it through that year. I was seriously considering homeschooling both the boys the next year but I still wasn't convinced it was the right decision. I wanted to see if my boys would get good teachers for 1st and 4th grade and then decide whether they would continue there. Well, they both got great teachers. But we last only about a month. The boys weren't happy and I wasn't either. There were lots of things that bothered me. For one thing, my first grader wasn't passing the sight word levels quick enough according to the teacher. He was starting to say he hated reading and he wasn't good at it. He was only 6 1/2! My 4th grader was overwhemled with the number of students in his class. I think there were about 34 kids in his class. He didn't have enough time to read. I pulled both boys out of school for the last time - that was 3 years ago. 

Homeschooling stats: Including the 1st/2nd grade year - 4th, 5th, 6th grades, my oldest has been homeschooled for 4 years. My second son has been homeschooled for 3 years (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and my youngest has homeschooled her entire school career (pre-K and K) for two years. 

This is the first year I can honestly say that I didn't have second thoughts. I didn't go looking for alternatives to homeschooling. I can proudly say that I didn't fill out any paperwork for any schools or go on any new parent tours.  I know for many of you this doesn't sound like much of an accomplishment but for me it's huge. 

My crooked path to homeschooling is a result of my wanting the best for my children. Maybe I've over analyzed a situation or two and been guilty of seeing greener grass on the other side but I've never been afraid to make changes when I felt it was necessary. And this winding road has brought us here today...embracing homeschooling. 

Road To Nowhere

This new documentary has been brought to my attention and I'm planning to see it this week. Here is the description of the film.

"Race to Nowhere is a documentary film examining the pressures faced by youth, teachers and parents in our achievement obsessed education system and culture. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried students aren’t developing the skills needed, and parents who are trying to do what's best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic running rampant in our schools."

Here is the link to the website
http://www.racetonowhere.com/

Best Family Vacation Ever!!!

We just got back from a week of skiing and snowboarding in Brian head, Utah. This was our first trip there and the first time the kids skiied and snowboarded. We went with another family and rented a cabin. It was a lot of fun to hang out with them for the week. The kids had a blast playing together especially sledding in front of the cabin. This was the best snow I have every skiied in - such dry, soft powder.
The weather changed everyday so we experienced everything from blue skies to blizzards. I highly recommend BH for families. The kids camp was terrific and our kids went from first timers to going down some intermediate runs - all in just one week. The teachers in the kids camp were all great and actually everyone we met was friendly and very helpful. We can't wait to go again.

Make a digital slideshow

Sad, sad, sad - I'm a sucky blogger!

I don't know how all you consistent bloggers do it! Especially those of you with lots of kids, homeschooling, and even some of you work outside the home! I just want to say how much I admire all of my mom friends for all that you do. You are all beautiful, amazing women, and I am one blessed woman to have you all in my life.

Because I love you so much I dedicate the following poem to you...

True friendship - A.K.A. None of that Sissy Crap

Here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card - Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words..

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end 'Why?' you may ask; 'because you are my friend'.

Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel it's true warmth.

Remember: A friend will help you move. A really good friend will help you move a body. Let me know if I ever need to bring a shovel...

Final Results

I know...it's like looking at Kate Hudson or Reese Witherspoon. I can't tell you how many times I've been stopped on the street for my autograph. The resemblances are eerie. 

Day 5 & Day 6

Congratulations if you found me. I tried to shorten my blog name and as a result couldn't find it on the web so I changed it back. It's a mouth-full A Little Piece of Sanity for Me but oh well. I'm neither technologically gifted nor have enough time on my hands to figure out the problem so hopefully going back to the original name and address will work out. 

Here is an update on my attempt at Peeling back the years. 

Day 5: Peeling Forehead and cheeks and chin

Day 6: Peeling in the hairline, near ears, and neck - under chin

(this picture really grosses me out)

Happy Groundhog Day!

I hear the little critter has seen his shadow and we all know what that means. But seriously, if he'd just turn around and face the sun he'd see the light not his shadow. I'm actually enjoying this "winter" weather so I don't mind if we have another 6 weeks of it. It's good for my face, right.

The Real Day 3 ~ The chin has begun to peel.

Day 4 ~ chin, upper lip, cheeks are peeling

Reflections in a mirror...
Do you see a resemblance?

DAY 3 Chemical Peel

Wow! Who knew I had a full beard and mustache hidden away under all that old skin! I guess it's time to visit the laser center. :)

A Week in the Life...

of one homeschooling family...

*note that we fit in workbook type work (aka traditional schoolwork) in between classes

Monday: get up, drink coffee, make sure kids eat, take care of personal hygiene, get dressed, do chores

start some workbook school work which gets done off and on in between classes*

writing class for boys 10-11:30

reading, writing, and math with TJ 10-11:30

spanish tutor comes to our house for boys 12-2

Take TJ to spanish tutor 12:30-1:15

music TJ 3-4

music Mr. Kai 4-5

Guitar for Pickle 5:30-6 (I drop off and dad picks up)

Tuesday: same morning as Monday

see note*

German for Pickle and his friend V here at our house 10-11

do school work with Mr. Kai and TJ 10-11

Art class at our house with all 3 kids 11:15-12:30 ish

this is the afternoon I try to schedule appts, run errands, etc

Wednesday: same morning as the other days but more of a scramble because we have to be somewhere early

Earthroots 9-2

babysit in the afternoon 2:30

Thursday: same morning as the other days

see note*

Chinese at our house all 3 kids 11-12

PE at the beach 1-2

every 4th Thurs we have a meeting with our E.S.

some Thurs we have BookClub in the afternoon

first semester we did Craft/Social Studies with two other families in the afternoons

babysit in the afternoon 2:30

Friday: same morning routine

on a good morning we fill in the holes from the week

Homeschool Park Day 11:30-1:30 This is really the highlight of our week! We have a great homeschooling community and I truly believe it's the key for surviving the ups and downs of homeschooling.

Aikido 6:15-7

Weekends: Even though it's the weekend it doesn't mean learning ends. Sometimes we go places that I consider educational but more importantly it's fun. Sometimes dad will do things with them that we couldn't fit in during the week like science experiments, bike rides, skate park, visiting great grandma who is almost 97, going to the recycling center, going to the grocery store, going to the library. Because we homeschool, I see the educational value in all the regular activities of life. Learning never ends. It doesn't only happen M-F 7:45-2:05. It's 24/7/365.

PE at the skatepark

Running for my life

A little background: I didn't start running until I was 34 years old. I consider myself a turtle - slow and steady. I started running because I wanted to lose weight but after I started I got the running bug. I set goals for myself - first a 5k, then a 10k, then a half marathon (I actually got talked into this one and thought I was crazy for even considering it). And then, the big one - the full marathon. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I'm posting my race reports from my two full marathons. I am signed up to do another one this year in October but I don't know if I will make it to the full. I might down-scale to the half - you know what they say about half marathons - half the distance, twice the fun.

June 4, 2006 San Diego Rock and Roll Full Marathon

RACE REPORT

My Friends! Thank you for the emails!!! Well...total honesty...here it comes...IT WAS BRUTAL! I felt great for the first 20 miles...really...I was cheering on other people that weren't doing so well. Then after 20 came 21 and I hit the proverbial wall. I kept telling myself NO, the wall isn't real, it's just psychological, but my legs were saying Bullshit...I'm done. Slowed down, I made it o.k. to 22 but by 23 I saw my family and I was bawling. I told them This is Brutal but they gave me so much encouragement I had to keep going. It was critical to have them there. (They saw me at 14 looking SO STRONG and at 23 crying). At about 21 I started saying in my head This is Brutal, This is Brutal and then I realized I had to stop so I said YES, it is Brutal but I am strong and I can do this! I'm raw...but I've been through harder things in my life than running a marathon and I CAN DO THIS! So after seeing my family at mile 23 it was really just about getting across that finish line...it felt like I was barely picking up my feet and my body was tired but my mind was strong. I didn't walk...I didn't stop...I didn't get on the bus...I ran across that finish line...5 hours almost to the minute! And then I thought I was going to throw up and pass out so I slowly made my way to the medical tent where they gave me a pack of salt to swallow and water, ice on my knees which were going into rigamortis and I laid on the cot...sucked on pretzels and viola I felt better. I got up and joined the others in the *walking wounded shuffle.* I ate a little yogurt, a little bagel (very little), a banana, and an orange. I felt SO much better. I met up with my family and really felt great. I DID IT!!! I met my goals...I made it across the finish line, I ran the whole time/no walking for me, and I did in a reasonable amount of time. It was my first and I am SO proud of myself...and even though it was so physically brutal it was so emotionally wonderful that I will probably do it again. Am I crazy? Maybe. ;)

July 29, 2007 San Francisco Full Marathon

RACE REPORT

Thanks for the good wishes on my marathon this past weekend. Here is my official race report...

My race was AWESOME!!! I'll start off by saying that I took a friend's advice and incorporated strategic walk breaks into my race this time, and along with some other nutritional changes, it made a HUGE difference in how I felt at the end of the race. AND...I finished faster!!!!

As most of you know, I ran my first full marathon down in San Diego last year...my goals were to finish and to run the entire way. I accomplished my goals but I felt like crap at the end. I felt like I was barely running b/c my legs were so heavy and fatigued. When I crossed the finish line I was dizzy, nauseous, and I thought I was going to pass out. I had to make a b-line to the Medical Tent. Thank goodness for those people. They saved me. They dosed me up on salt and I felt much better. I drank way too much water...not enough electrolyte replacement, and I should have walked, stretched my legs during the race. Live and Learn. Finish time was 5 hours.

Fast forward to Sunday, July 29th (my daughter's birthday). This marathon experience was 180 degrees from last year. My plan was to walk the hills to save my quads and consume table salt the last half of the race. I did both of those things. I walked almost every hill but I walked briskly. I stretched my legs a few times. I carried salt packets with me and consumed those on the last half of the race. I drank Cytomax at the water stations. I took one Energy Gel and ate half a banana during the race. I felt so good. I kept thinking I was going to hit the wall. I knew I could go 22 -23 miles feeling pretty good but I was scared about the wall after that. I was especially concerned b/c my last long training run was 22.5 miles and I threw up a lot of water & felt awful. Unfortunately, I had a migraine on Saturday before the race so I was really just hoping to make it to the race and finish in 5 - 5 1/2 hours without getting sick.

Well, not only did I finish this race without getting sick...I never hit the wall, I felt fantastic and I finished in 4 hours 40 minutes. 20 minutes faster than last year in San Diego. I couldn't believe it! My husband was shocked! He had to hustle from mile 22 to the finish line to see me finish. My kids were cheering me on! It was so amazing! I couldn't stop smiling! I could have kept running, I felt that good!

The walk breaks made all the difference in the world and the salt replacement for me was key. I am thrilled and I can't wait to take on the challenge of a triathlon and dare I say an ultramarathon sometime in the future. :)

A week and a half! Warning - pictures might scare the weak of stomach

This blog is my New Year's Resolution and I'm trying to keep up with it. I can't believe a week and a half has passed and I couldn't squeeze in a post. So it's Saturday and I'm playing catch up. I have 3 things I can post about 1) Running 2) a day in the life of a homeschooling mom 3) my first chemical peel. I know they are all so exciting and juicy!

I'll start with the one I'm knee deep in (or should I say face deep in) - my first chemical peel. It's funny when I was a young teen girl I had naturally light blonde hair and I said I would never color my hair. In my thirties, I ate those words! And when I was a young 20-something I said I would age gracefully meaning naturally without intervention. Now, I see 40 on the horizon waving me down, welcoming me to a new decade and I'm again eating my words. You know it's easy to say you won't color your hair, wax your eyebrows, wear make-up, or have any cosmetic procedures done when you're a hot young 20 or 30 year old. There's nothing wrong with a little facial peel to sluff off some old skin and reveal the young sassy skin just dying to show up to the party, right? - says the 39 year old. The reality is I never thought I'd drive an SUV, wear Lucky jeans, or get anything more than a facial - but here I am doing all 3 and I'm loving it! No apologies! I will add pictures as the face sheds. ;P

BEFORE THE PEEL


Immediately After Appt - Day 1 (aka Senora Greasy)

The First Morning after appt - Day 2 (aka Senora Greasy y Rojo)

Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Wet Dogs ~ OH MY

We have weather! Can you believe it? Not just rain (which is usually a drizzly mist compared to - well everywhere else but SoCal) but real weather. Fences falling over, trees breaking, tornado watch at local schools~ up and down our street yesterday the palm trees were blowing sideways and it looked like a hurricane. Of course, we're used to sunny sunny sunshine so any amount of weather is a big deal for us. I have to admit that usually I don't care for the rain but I'm kind of liking it right now. I don't like the damage it causes but we need the rain and it makes it feel like winter. I love lighting a fire in the fireplace, brewing a cup of tea, and snuggling up with my pups and a good book. The kids are having a blast getting blown around and soaking wet going from the house to the car and back. They love stomping in puddles and dressing in rain gear! Rain boots instead of sandals are a novelty when you live at the beach. I took the dogs for a walk yesterday and they were soaked, nothing like the smell of wet dog. I love my dogs. Roxy is from the Downey shelter in Los Angeles County and Pookie, the yorkie, is a backyard rescue.

ROXY (short for Rockstar) ~ my girl is a terrier mix ~ I rescued her from Downey. Please consider adopting your next pet. The fees are really low in L.A. too. Check out the sweeties just waiting for a home. http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/


POOKIE (named by the kids after Garfield's teddy bear) ~ my lil guy is 2 years old.

The Table

I'm so happy with how my table turned out. It's funky, it's colorful. It's got that beach cottage or farmhouse feel to it. The pictures really don't do it justice. It's a really pretty jade green color and it's distressed.


BEFORE


BEFORE


AFTER



AFTER

The Chairs

Here are the Before & After pictures of the chairs I just redid that go with the table.

I love how they turned out - very beach cottage chic, funky farmhouse - I can dream that I'm not in a track home!


The Back ~ Before



The Back ~ AFTER


The Front ~ BEFORE


The Front ~ AFTER

DIY: Soft Swords

I made these "nerf" style swords with materials from the local home improvement store. The kids seem to LOVE them!

Materials

3/4" piece of PVC pipe

plumber's grey foam (I bought 3/4" but I think bigger would be better, maybe 1")

PVC pipe caps for the handle end

duck tape

hockey tape

Directions

cut the Pipe to the size sword you want (I did approx 30")

wrap them in the grey foam leaving some room from one end for the handle

cap one end

Tape the handle part with hockey tape

Tape the sword part with duck tape

PLAY!!!

Learning 24/7 365

Homeschooling - it's what we do, it's how we live. Here are some great abstract art sculptures the kids worked on today with their grandma. She enjoys art, they enjoy art and mommy gets a break! I've been told these are based on Paul Klee style art.

The Fish

by Mr. Kai 8 years old

Dolphin, Whale, What do you see?

by T.J. 6 years old

Dinosaur

by Mr. Kai

The Hand

by Pickle 11 years old

Isn't this great? Almost makes me want to skip my "free" time and sculpt right along with them. Almost but not quite. One thing with homeschooling is that you have to grab those "alone" moments whenever you can even if it's just to go to CostCo, the bank, and Target - all by myself - let the fun begin!!!

Some Finished Pieces

BEFORE

Just a boring old brown table

AFTER

A Chic Metallic Silver Table

Distressed Bench in Bahama Blue and White

Close up of the distress work

Distressing to De-Stress

Redoing furniture is keeping me sane these days. This is my husband's old dresser (it had fake wood siding like a 1970's station wagon). I wish I had taken a before picture but I got so excited about getting started that I totally had a brain-fart and didn't think about it until I was elbow deep in veneer shavings. I literally hated this dresser before I painted it and now I love it!

Steps

1: sand it

2: sweep it

3: spray paint it

4: beat the bejesus out of it

Staying Sane in the New Year

Happy New Year 2010!

I don't usually like to make new year's resolutions but I've decided to jump into the 21st century this year with both feet (o.k. maybe one foot and a couple toes) and commit to this blog. I'm "just a mom" who happens to stay at home and educate my children outside the local elementary school walls a.k.a. homeschooling. Homeschooling is a ridiculous misnomer. Anyone familiar with homeschooling knows you're never home! At least it feels that way. But I veer off track like a rambling locomotive. This blog is about - well - staying sane - in my multiple personality world.

As some of my closer friends and family know I can get a little "excited" about my new ventures. (Excited can be read as obsessive. I'm o.k. with that). But it's these adventures or projects that keep me sane. A little bit of sanity is not over-rated.

Keeping it sane.

~ Deven