Catching Up with Us Meyer's Sept 2018 Edition

Hey friends, it's been a hot minute, hasn't it? Life keeps on rolling, whether we participate or not, so we might as well play along, right? Anywho, September has been packed full of the exciting and the mundane, so here's a quick overview to get everyone caught back up. 

~Hercules: Is still unemployed in terms of not working for an official business but continues to be the busiest unemployed person I know. He's completed 2 engine swaps this month, fixed up a new-to-us car that he and Dastroyah collaborated on for me, fixed Pat's car 3 times, and Nathan's at least twice and is working on Dastroyah's Datsun as I type this. He's also helped Roger, Teresa and Karen move, put together an estimate to repair a home damaged by flooding, put in new carpet for 2 people and repaired a car for Tommy and Alex from church. Everyone in the family has working AC in their car now (If they are set up for it) thanks to a new technique he learned recently. He's worked on Ricky's old 270 car and a motorcycle that Ricky wants to buy from David. He is considering going into business with Joelle and opening their own little handy-man/auto repair storefront. Somewhere in there, he's made time to hang out with DT playing Mine-Craft, celebrate our 22nd anniversary, attend church and community group, and always be present for Pizza and Movie Night each week as we plow through the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. 

~Mama K: I'm tired just trying to remember everything Dan has been doing. LOL! I also worked my 30-35 hours a week with Jodi, did a solid 4 weeks of school with DT and Mr T., ran the house, decorated for Autumn, cut all the hair, attended swing dancing on Tuesday evenings, Sister-Girl Night on Wednesdays, enjoyed Community Group each Thursday, hosted Game Night on Fridays and church on Sundays. Jody Stolp, Ruby Eley and I did a FULL DAY of batch cooking last Saturday and while we wore ourselves completely out, we had a ball and prepared a full freezer's worth of breakfast foods, which are now being inhaled at an alarming rate by The Man Crew and Friends. (Look for a separate post regarding the baking day soon.) I also FINALLY FINISHED my #HotMess challenge project of getting the SOC room ready to use as a scrap-booking counter so I can leave my supplies out all the time. *Victory dance* I even managed to sort some books, clothes, and other things and filled my donation box to overflowing twice over. So not to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT, I was pretty productive this month, too. 

~Patrick: Patrick remains elusive after his grumpy sorta-kinda-maybe move out at the beginning of the summer over the lack of Internet at the MCH. He's been sleeping at Nathan's for weeks and weeks and has recently crossed the street to hang out at The Hooligan House. He comes home to shower, do his laundry, and eat all the food out of the fridge. He also comes home to ask Dan to help him with car projects, and for Pizza and Movies Night. Jodi and I are considering asking him to take school pics of Mr. T and Slick.

~Derek: Derek is working his way through the 7th grade and making progress by leaps and bounds. His tablet and/or Mine Craft consumes most of the rest of his time, if I allow it...because riding your bike/rollerblading/pogo sticking isn't that much fun by himself, and it's still too hot for Mama to intentionally spend much time outside. He did get to attend Home School Day at the Rockin' Jump Trampoline park and enjoyed himself immensely. 

~Dastroyah: Dastroyah still prefers not to be talked about much, but I think it's safe to say that he's working on motorcycle and car projects, still working at the gym, and he attends Pizza and Movie Nights each week.

It's the Little Things: Day 272

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  A day spent almost completely at home. As often as we strive for them, in this busy busy busy culture, an at-home day is a gift. DT is still really embracing the idea of Sabbath, even though to him it just means a day at home to do whatever he wants. ;)
• Dan was helping Roger, Teresa, and Karen move into their new home, so it was just DT and I most of the day. I'm glad he's willing to help friends and family with whatever he can. The tv was on, but quiet, and DT took breaks often to help me with things or head out into the sunshine for a bit. I even snuck in listening to a CD or two while DT was otherwise occupied.
• I chatted on the phone with my mom for over an hour about her recent trip to Ohio, life around here, and just stuff. I miss her. I'm grateful for technology that helps the miles between us seem shorter.
• I accomplished several small projects that had been lingering on my to do list all week, like getting out the Autumn decorations and putting away the Summer ones, catching up on ALL of the dishes, 'helping' DT get his room cleaner and giving the rats a bath, folding some laundry, adding several books and a few items of clothing to the donation box, cleaning the bathroom and scrubbing the counters. Little things, but as a whole, made the house feel ready for Autumn and clean.
• When Dan came home from helping them move, he painted my nails so I would sit still next to him while he watched a movie. Oh my goodness, I love this man. He just wants me to sit by him. (Hello, quality time love language)
• I helped Ricky draft an email to fire his current lawyer, which was the only reason I left the house. I spent an hour at The Hooligan House eating pizza, laughing over the guys' love language quiz results, drafting the email, and generally enjoying myself quite a bit. I got to hug Carolina and Judah, have a chat with Johnny, and listen to Alex put everyone in their place a time or two. Good stuff. 
• When I returned home, Dan and I watched a few episodes of This Is Us, season 2. Netflix DVD service is awesome. It really IS the Little Things.

See how easy it is to come up with things once you start looking around?
What's on YOUR little things list?

#100HappyDays2018: Day 100

#100HappyDays: Day 100
These 100 days of summer have passed so quickly it seems and now that we’re here at the end, I couldn’t choose just one photo. So, I shall share two today for the grand finale.
I love Las Cruces, it’s so beautiful!
#100DaysOfSummer
#LasCruces
#TheOrganMountains
#100HappyDays2018

  

#100HappyDays2018: Day 99

#100HappyDays: Day 99
Funny pictures of my extended family that make me laugh. This is an oldie but a goody.
#100DaysOfSummer
#OldPhotos
#MyMomNeverMakesFunnyFaces
#JayLooksLikeASerialKiller
#100HappyDay2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 98

 

 

 

#100HappyDays: Day 98
Happy Mail from a friend. Amy and I were talking nutrition and feeling run down and burned out last week, and today I find goodies in my mailbox! Thanks Amy!!
#100DaysOfSummer
#HappyMail
#NutritionForMama
#100HappyDays2018

 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 97

#100HappyDays: Day 97
A fun dice-flicking animal 🐘 🦍 🦓 🐅 game that DT thinks is hilarious and fancy new rubber bands to keep the game lids from falling off when we take our games to share with friends.
#100DaysOfSummer
#BoardGames
#100HappyDays2018

 Yes, we're *those* people. The crazy ones that homeschool. Because we like it. Because we like our children. Because we think that it's our job as parents (and not the government's) to raise our children. So here we are, 18 years in...

If you are interested in what we are using this year, you are in the right place. Here is an overview of what we are doing for the 2018-2019 school year.
Derek is a 7th grader this year and Titus is a 5th grader. Both have learning struggles so they end up about on the same level, which is currently hovering around an upper 3rd/lower 4th grade level. But we made MUCH progress last year and are hoping to see massive gains again this year. 
Jodi and I are sharing the teaching time again this year with my Derek and her Titus. It's good for each of them to have a class mate, and to have a variety of teachers and styles. So, without further ado...

DEREK (and Titus):

• We are continuing to use our beloved My Father's World for our core curriculum. It covers Bible/character training, geography, history, science, art, music and our read-aloud books. We are in year 3 of the 5 year cycle called Rome to the Reformation. It can be found here. It was generously given to us by one of our homeschooling friends and I filled the gaps with the MFW gift certificate I had from work last year's homeschooling conference. I teach in the morning while Jodi is running errands, visiting students at school, and doing her housekeeping. Jodi teaches in the early afternoon while I do office work. We are following the public school schedule since James is in public school and it also keeps our work/school schedule simple in terms of when Jodi will have clients in the office and I will be at work.
• Jodi teaches in the early afternoons and is writing curriculum specifically for Derek and Titus to cover Language Arts and Arithmetic, with a special focus on writing. She is using the "What Your ___Grader Needs to Know" series as a starting point and adding from there. This year we are using the 2nd and 3rd grade books for language arts and using the 4th and 5th grade books for math. We are also using Teaching Textbooks Grade 5 as a way to cover some of the basics and reinforce the math concepts that Jodi is teaching during the afternoons.
• Derek and Titus are learning some Spanish this year and we are using the DuoLingo phone app to allow them some independent learning time. They are both soaking it up like little sponges and are teaching us new things weekly.
• Extra Curriculars include: Lego Club/Board Game Day/Camps at Learn For a Lifetime, Game Night, Jump dates at Rockin' Jump on Homeschool Day, play dates with friends (and each other) and whatever else their mothers think up for them.  
  
  
  That pretty well sums up what we are doing this school year. If we add or change anything, I'll update the page.

#100HappyDays2018: Day 96

#100HappyDays: Day 96
Making my own lotions and potions. On the sides, beard balm for The BIGS, scented with tea tree and mint essential oils. In the middle, some lemongrass scented lip balm for Mama K.
#100DaysOfSummer
#HomemadeGoodness
#HandmadeByMamaK
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays 2018: Day 95

#100HappyDays: Day 95
A beautiful breakfast out on the patio of The Shed with Hercules to celebrate our anniversary.
Followed by grocery shopping because we know how to party like it’s Saturday. 😉
#100DaysOfSummer
#HappyAnniversary
#TeamMeYeR
#100HappyDays2018