I Tri

Picked up my packet and swag bag for the tri tomorrow.  The nerves flared as soon as that cute little tech shirt was in my hands.  The swag bag... full of goodies, cap color... red, popcorn flavor.... dill pickle??  really dill pickle flavored popcorn?  Pass on that one.
I'm ready.  I wish I would have been able to train harder but the calf strain put a crimp in my training schedule.  Tomorrow's goal ...... finish (preferably not in last)
I have a sweet friend who is getting up at dark o' thirty to go with me.  She was going to race it but had to withdraw so she is volunteering and being my car trip buddy.  She has done tri's more recently so I am mooching some supplies off her and her wealth of knowledge.
I will report back tomorrow with how I fared, hopefully with photographic evidence.

Pic coming later of the swag..........

TOS Review: e-book Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler

I was asked to review this product by The Homeschool Crew as I have "older" kids.  Exactly when did "my" kids get older?  Thirteen years ago homeschooling wasn't even on my radar, now I'm gearing up to homeschool one through high school.  Seriously... high school?
Aging crisis aside...  When I loaded the e-book and read the title it took awhile to register in my brain that I was indeed graduating a junior higher in just 4 short weeks and that this  e-book did indeed pertain to my current life stage.

 Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler provides encouragement to parents about to embark on high school.  This $12 e-book published by TOS is a compilation of 13 short essays from a variety of homeschooling parents who have been there done that and lived to tell about it.  Amanda Bennett provides an introduction while Deborah Wuehler wraps it up in the epilogue.

Each family's way of going about high school is different, but one thing remained the same for all of them, they sought the Lord's wisdom in the path they should pursue.  Reading how each of them sought the Lord reminded me that I am not the one in charge of my children's educational path.  Relief from buried anxieties flowed through me as I read how each high schooling path was as varied as the child and teacher forging it.  High school does not have to fit any preconceived mold, even within the same gene pool!   I enjoyed reading the different ways the families pursued the high schooling years, whether dual enrollment, apprenticeships, or life skills focused.  It offered insight into finding what was right for each child, by seeking the Lords' direction to suit their individual temperaments, talents and passions.

The final pages of this e-book are filled with resources and web links - from transcripts to general help.  I look forward to grabbing a few of the recommended books to read over the summer.

If you value peace of mind as you approach the high school years, this book is invaluable.


Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product for review purposes

Getting off my Butt

I have decided to get off my butt.  Two reasons really, mentally and physically.  I have had a downward spiral in my physical well being since being laid up for 6 weeks and then scared to lift anything heavier than my laptop for a few more weeks than that.  Then it was too chicken to start back at the gym lest I tear or pop something.  I have no excuses now.  I have been cleared by my plastic and my onc to get back to the gym.  So I joined a little gym up the street with John.  We've been twice in three weeks :)  Need to work on that.  I have also rededicated myself to tri training.  I enjoyed biking 9 years ago when I first got in to tri's.  Swimming for me is a given.  So I am joining a tri training group, downloaded a Couch to 5K app, and have almost signed up for my first sprint tri in May.
Mentally I need this.  I need a season of me time.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm in a dark place right now.  I need to get out of it.  Part of it is what I have been through, not sure I ever fully processed what happened to me and I am now suffering for laughing my way through the pain.  Homeschooling and parenting are overwhelming right now.  Luckily the kids have switched to auto pilot and are keeping pace while I do what I can.  John has stepped in also to ease my load.  So for a season (hopefully a short one) I need to focus more on me.  Is this selfish?  Yes in the short term, no for long term.  I need this.  It isn't a want it is a need.  I need to be healthy both physically and mentally and I have neither right now.  I am on the road to recovery.......

Dear Family and Friends,

I was curious to know if you have finally decided to homeschool your children?  I mean after all are you not worried about them being over socialized?  Are you not concerned that they could excel academically beyond their peers in one class but be held back from learning because no one else excels?  Are you not concerned that they may be excellent readers but be held to reading at their grade level?  Are you not concerned that they are perhaps struggling in math yet are barely keeping their head above water because the other 29 students must be taught at the pace set by the standardized tests?  Afraid that they are only being taught the test in order for the school district to get its money?  Does it not concern you that they don't have time to hop down bunny trails when something strikes their fancy?
I do not ask you these questions when I speak with you so please do not ask myself or my children if they are going "back" to school.  They are back to school although they never left.... we just switched schools.  My children enjoy homeschooling most days.  I'm sure if you asked your kids or yourself  if you would not respond that traditional school was enjoyable or tolerable most days as well.  If you are concerned about my kids socialization don't be.  They have friends, they know how to talk to others, play nice etc.  We ask each year if they would like to go to traditional school.  Each year the answer is no.  Lest you forget two of our children have been to private school and know what each side is like.  Our family functions just fine with them all at home.  Is every day roses and sunshine?  NO but I bet it isn't at your house either or at school for that matter.  Am I cheating my children?  From what I ask?  Am I the best teacher in every subject?  Nope, but we were paying for our kids to have worse teachers.  I have flaws, yes but I am human as are you.
So please don't ask my children if they are going back to school in the fall or ever.  If they decide to go to traditional school you all would be the first to know.
Sincerely,
Traci

Month in review via pictures in no particular order

Hannah earns second place with her teammates at Awana Bible Quiz

Neil and Ian at Report to State for Cub Scouts

Neil turns 7

Snow day 2010

Wow almost a month

didn't realize it had been a month.  John has been working outside the home and I guess I don't have as much free time as  I used to.  I do have a ton of pictures to post as we had a SNOW DAY last week.  Neil turned 7, and baseball started up for both boys.  You should see the evening scramble!  Insanity.  I will try to get those pics up later.  I'm at John's computer because it has a nice big screen :)

The SUN has set.......

after 13 years John was laid off by SUN microsystems.  Oracle's buyout of them finally was approved and after watching a webcast of both sets of executives wearing "Now Hiring" buttons the call came that they were not hiring John.  Their loss.  We didn't panic as we had just finished taking FPU and had an emergency fund, and John would be receiving a severance package.  Turns out John never had a day off.  He started work as a contractor today (well he was supposed to but he is down with a bout of brochitis, on the mend)  The only downside to the new job is it is an office job.  So the good days of having him home all day are gone.  But I thank God that he was home for a season especially during my recent surgeries and recovery.

The pictures in this post are from our beach trip.  Avery took a dunk in the gulf and we had to strip her and put john's fleece on her.