A Little Twilight Zone-ish

So our first day back this semester went better than I thought.

B, the little buzzard, did indeed tumble and fell just short of getting all the algebra done on time. He had 3 problems left. (and I did give him 5 extra minutes because I’m week). He does have to pay the $40 tutor fee. He was decidedly unhappy, but he did not get in any further trouble by letting his unhappiness vomit out on me or his siblings as occasionally happens when you are a teen (or, you know, alive).

A got most of her work done and then caught her ride to Scottish Rite for her dyslexia remediation class. And T is back living with her parents and had her first day at Public School.












So once A left, I looked around. B & G were both on their beds reading from their Sonlight readers, and E was sitting at the table in her room finishing up her math.

It was eerily quite.

We do our together stuff first thing, so A can get in on it but since she left I have spent much of the time helping a child out here and there, and just wandering around my house aimlessly. Is it possible I might actually not be needed every minute of the day this semester?

I managed to get the menu for the week figured out, the grocery list written, the snack sign up list for my bible study and Sunday school caught up, (This is my contribution, snack organization, it is a vital part of any Christian gathering!) two loads of laundry washed, folded , AND put away.

Wow! This might just be a banner year for me. Maybe my house won’t look like a stuff bomb went off a mere two weeks after we started school back up!

If You Give A Mouse A Paintbrush...

It took a wee bit longer than I anticipated to paint, we started out well enough, you know, taking off light switch plates and prepping the living room.


Here are the results. I know, I know; you’re thinking it looks exactly the same! Really it doesn’t, if you look at the white blinds and the ceiling, which are a true white, you can see the obvious color change. The walls in the living room are a more creamy white now. We chose this not quite the same color white because color apparently frightnes me.

Now, have you ever read the book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie? Yeah, that is kinda the way the weekend worked out. We painted the living room, but then the dust, Oh My Goodness Gracious! So I had to dust everything we own because everyone knows you can’t place dirty, dusty things back in freshly painted room. And do you know that you can’t really dust a candle in a glass jar? Instead you have to scrub it with a serious scrubbing brush to get all that black sootie stuff off, because you can’t have a sootie candle in a freshly painted room either.

Also, you can’t really enjoy a freshly painted living room when it is attached to a dirty, dingy dining room. So you must paint the dirty, dingy dining room. Then the dust, Oh My Goodness Gracious! So I had to dust all the tea cups and tea pots and photo frames on my decorative shelf. After we put all the shelves back on the walls in the dining room, and all the nicely dusted things back on the shelves on the wall in the dining room, we stood back to enjoy it.

But then we noticed that the kitchen, which is attached to the dining room, which is attached to the living room, was in dire need of a touch up; as it was the first room we painted several months ago and there were spots, and wear, and yuck! So we got out the kitchen paint and touched up/repainted the entire kitchen.(The shelf next to the window holds my teacups, which are still in the dishwasher)



So, 48 hours, and several paint cans later. This mouse has her cookie, (and an intense amount of pain) to start off the new semester! Whoo! Hoo! Bring on the schoolwork! But first, my bed and my heating pad please.

A Fresh Coat of Hillbillies

Today we paint.

I took some before pictures so I’ll be forced to do the actual painting so I can post the after pictures.

And yes, that is The Beverly Hillbillies on the TV. It has been playing on a constant loop since New Year's Day when D had our DVR record them ALL. We’ve enough Beverly Hillbillies episodes to last us till the second coming. As soon as my girls start talking like Ellie May, I’m cutting them off.

Before…




After…
Coming soon, check back in a while; a good long while.

A Tumbling Buzzard

I like the idea of reality discipline. The idea that kids need to be able to experience some of the natural consequences of their choices, weather they be good or bad.

In the past (among other things) we have not replaced a stolen bike after that particular child had been reminded over and over to put it away, and we have not allowed children to go to parties/activities when chores have not been done.

Conversely, we rejoice when our children are allowed special privileges because of their good behavior, or wholeheartedly agreed when people complement us on the good behavior of our kids.

I really, really believe that learning how to handle natural consequences is an important part of growing up.

But sometimes, for a mom, it is hard to watch.

To say B has been unmotivated about his algebra would be a bit of an understatement. He’d rather do just about anything else.

Over the holidays (4 weeks from his tutor) he has had 9 lessons and a test to do at home. D and I decided we would not nag him to do it. I have spent MUCH time over the last semester micromanaging him and his algebra. I have given him systems; I have given him calendars, spreadsheets, graphs and powerpoint presentations (okay, maybe not that last one). And still it is like pulling teeth. I feel like I am the one taking the class.

After much discussion and prayer, D and I sat B down at the beginning of his holiday and told him we would NOT nag and or remind him about his algebra requirements. We would be happy to help him whenever he may ask, but we will not spend our holiday worried over his algebra. We also explained that if he is not done with EVERY LAST PROBLEM by the time he sees his tutor on Monday, January 7th at 1pm, he will be paying the $40 tutor fee. And as usual, if he fails the test he will be grounded (including the loss of his new car which he is now able to drive on his own) until he gets a passing test score, whenever that may be.

I must admit to gently reminding him a few times over the holidays, but for the most part I’ve left it alone.

B has 8 lessons and one test left to do before Monday. He plans to go play soccer on Sat afternoon, he has a mowing/raking job on Sat morning, and he will be required to go to Church on Sunday. It’s not looking good for him.

I really think this is one of those times that I, as the mom, am going to have to get out of the way and let him experience the inevitable failure coming, due to his own bad choices. It’s going to hurt. It’s kinda like watching a train wreck. It’s coming and there is nothing I can do about it.

Being a Mom is really hard sometimes.

Here is a little excerpt from one of Dr Leman’s books. (he is my favorite parenting “expert”)

“In order for reality discipline to work the first thing that must happen is the child must feel loved,” said Dr. Leman. “Reality discipline uses guidance and action-oriented techniques. Action-oriented discipline is based on the reality that there are times when you have to pull the rug out and let the little buzzards tumble.”

I know that B is loved. I hope he feels it because the little buzzard is about to take a tumble.

It's A Complicated System.

I cleaned out my closet on New Year ’s Day. And my dresser. And the pile of papers off my bed side table. And my desk. I don’t know how things get so bad so fast.

Here is my organization plan. When something comes into the house, I look at it and if it must be dealt with immediately I do that. If it can wait I set it on my bed side table or my desk. They sit here until they become completely unimportant or irrelevant.

It is a complicated system, but it hardly works for us.

Adding to the problem is that the kids and D do this also. Don’t know what to do with it? Put it on mom’s desk or bed side table. She’ll deal with it, or not.

Here is my closet now. Minus 4 LAWN AND LEAF garbage bags, you know the really big kind.


And here is my bedside table minus all the unimportant papers.


Here is my desk with all the papers neatly filed in the new filing system D bought me to fit where the computer tower once stood back in the day before the laptop.


But here is the top of my dresser. I do still have some work to do.

Out With The Old, In With The New! (I love new!)

What is it about having a bare cupboard that stresses me out? Very few things make me feel more content than having a full pantry and fridge. It’s weird. It’s not really about me so much as it is about providing for my family.

My kids seem to be constantly hungry. Someone is always asking for a snack, and you can tell from the photos of my kids that they are not overweight; they burn a lot of calories running amuck as they do.

Over the last few days we’ve been eating leftovers; a little of this, a little of that, and little by little it has all run out.

So this morning I went to the store and spent the equivalent of the US National Debt buying food. I bought fresh fruit, fresh veggies, and meat. Lots of meat. My men love meat.

I got healthy popcorn, pretzels, cheese sticks and 3 gallons of milk.

We cleaned out the pantry and threw out all the cracker packages with only one cracker left in it and the chip bags with only chip dust. (We’ll tackle that top part later; a girl can only take so much in one day)














See how nice it all looks? This makes me happy. E and I organized the fridge and threw out all the old leftovers, and cleaned it up.














And look at all that fruit!









Sadly, it’ll all be gone by this time next week and I’ll have to do it all over again, but it feels good to throw out all the old and bring in the NEW!

We Have A Winner!

This morning, right as I was about to hit the ‘publish’ button, my internet went out.

I am sorry for the delay, now on with the show!

I used the list randomizer from Ramdom.org, and commenter #3 came in 1st.

You Win Halfmoon Girl!

Somehow this seems fitting as you were one of the first to leave a comment on my blog when I first started it.

So, email me at hilltoplife@gmail.com and give me your address and an email you’d like the Amazon gift card sent to and I’ll get them on their way.

I just know you’re going to love Susan May Warren’s books!

***I tried to figure out how to post a photo of the list randomizer thingie like I have seen others do, but I apparently don't have that much brain power this morning so you'll just have to take my word for the authenticity of this random drawing.***

A Give-Away!

THIS POST IS A STICKY. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR A NEW POST.

It’s time for my first ever Give-Away! Because I am a book worm, it seemed only appropriate to have a book give away.

I am a big fan of Susan May Warren’s books. The Josey series is my favorite. Everything is Coming Up Josey and Chill Out, Josey! Which I just finished today.

It is obvious that Susan (I’ll use her first name like we’re friends and so I don’t have to type so much) has spent much time in Russia. She has details and a feel for the place that you just can’t make up; you have to have experienced it.

Her Mission Russia series (In Sheep’s Clothing and Sands of Time) are some of my all time favorites. Sadly I already gave those books away to friends.

So, finally…The Giveaway!

I have the first book in the Noble Legacy; Reclaming Nick and the second book in the Josey series, Chill out Josey. I’ll also email the winner a $10 gift card to Amazon.com that you can use to buy the first book in the Josey series, Everything is Coming Up Josey. It appears it is out of print, but they have several used right now. Or if you wish you can buy the second in the Noble legacy series, Taming Rafe, which is coming out in Jan. (Or really it’s your gift card and you can do with it what you please. :o)

Here are the rules.

1. Write a post on your blog linking to this post; we want to share the love don’t ya know. (If you don’t have a blog just leave a comment)

2. Then leave me a comment on this post. (one only please)

3. Go to CBD and check out all of Susan May Warrens books, because they’re so very good!

I’ll close comments on Tuesday at Midnight (or I’ll stop counting any after midnight, because I don’t actually plan to be awake on Tuesday at midnight).

Then I’ll use the random number generator thingie to pick a winner. I’ll post the winner on Monday, and tell you how to claim your prize!

This contest is for those residing in the US, Canada or Mexico. (Sorry if any of you 10 readers live abroad, but I'm on a very limited budget here, D would freak if I sent books to say, Cosovo.)

So, let the fun begin!

And just in case you were wondering, I don’t actually know Susan May Warren, and I get no benefit from this giveaway other than the joy of helping you, my wonderful 10 daily readers, find a new author that I just know you will love!

And now to figure out how to make this post a sticky…

Don't miss this amazing opportunity! Time is running out! You must act now!

The Give-Away ends tonight, so don’t forget to sign up to win some good books from a great author and a gift card to Amazon!

I'm out of breath from all that yelling and exclamation point using. Perhaps I should not have taken the ques on advertising from the ginsu knife commercial.

Life Is great, in 08! (do I sound like a highschool cheerleader? READY? OKAY!)

GO CHECK OUT THE GIVE AWAY!

Happy New Years Day! It’s the first day of 08, and…I’m tired. But I spent a lot of 07 tired. I think I need to drink more coffee. Or maybe exercise more, but I like coffee so much more than exercising.

D and I slept late today, which was nice; nothing like starting the year off being lazy.

I have to say that I am looking forward to the next semester of our school and I am giddy. The last semester was a hard one. We had my niece living with us and I was homeschooling her as well as my own. Homeschooling 5 was harder than I thought.

Also, the kids had a lot of places they needed to get to last year. I try very hard to limit our outside activities but last semester it seemed that all the kids had places to go.

A has Scottish Rite dyslexia school 4 days a week for 2 hours a day, right in the middle of the day. We had a carpool set up but still that is a lot of running around. I have Thursday co op where I teach and the kids attend classes, then B has an algebra tutor one a week. Then of course AWANA on Sunday night.

This semester, T is living at home with her parents again and attending public school, and Bryce is driving. That means I don’t have to take him to his activities. WHEW. I feel bon bon’s and couch time in my future. Ha, just kidding, maybe I’ll actually get to keep my house a little cleaner.

So I am looking forward to the New Year. I feel like some things have been taken off my plate, and after last semester, I’m relieved. Last semester was hard, really hard.
Last semester we had…

B broke his jaw

I got shingles (that had me in bed for about a month)

The boys got Chicken pox

Everyone but me got a cold from the dark side that made it sound like I was living in a smokers den.

We had various other health related issues that I won’t go into, because some of them were just, well, eeew.

So I see good things happening this year. God brought us through some hard times, but we are stronger, only because we’re leaning more heavily on Him.

I can’t help but think about how different my friend D’s and E’s life will be this year without Katie. I will spend much time praying God’s blessing for them this year. But I do know that this year for Katie will be amazing!