Back to School August 18, 2008

Yep, we got back into the swing of things with back to school. We had a few scheduling bumps, but that will get better this coming week.

We had some fun and exciting events!

On Tues, Nick and Em went for a trial lesson of gymnastics. They both loved it and we will be starting in October.  Nick has decided to put karate on hold for a while, in order to build up his strength with the gymnastics. The coach is a very good fit for him, I think we will all be pleased. Em will be in her element, she is so fearless and loves to flip and fly.

On Thursday, we went for a hiking adventure. We went to the Cherokee National Forest. WE stopped at the Meadowview Lookout Tower:

THis is looking back towards Greeneville. We think we can see this tower on the horizon from our house on a really clear day.

After the tower, we made our way up, up, up, 45-min-up a gravel winding road to the trail head of Max Patch Bald.  Listed as “Novice”, this hike is over a cleared grassy-yet pretty steep-incline. At the peak it’s at 5000 ft and has an excellent 360 view that is not captured in these pictures at all!

We picked a quart of the most lush beautiful blackberries at the top. The bushes were close to the ground and had not been picked over by bugs, unlike the ones we have at our house.  It was another torturous trip down to get back home.

When we got home, K went to pick up this:

Hurray for freecycle! We are all very excited to learn to play. I have ordered a learn at home system to start things off. Music lessons are so expensive!!

Today we went to the Davy Crockett Days festival at David Crocket State Park nearby.  We only had about an hour before the folks started packing up, but it was small and we all still had a good time looking at all the campsites and referring back to the Little House books which we’ve started reading.

This is just a little girl that Em was playing with. she reminded me of “Carrie” )

The campsites all made such a pretty tableau:

This week we are planning a trip to Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge.

Guess what?
I love my new camera!!!

Surviving August 11, 2008

This was posted to a special needs homeschooling board. I thought it was cute, and so true for most homeschoolers.

I Will Survive

I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling)
Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor
Mercilessly altered with apologies by Natalie Criss

First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
‘Cause I’m not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so now I teach my kids at home!
We study math
and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear
with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we’re nuts,
but they don’t even bother me
Come on, let’s go walk out the door.
We’re on the road now,
’cause we’re not home much anymore
My friends would laugh and say we’d be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble
that I’d give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we’ll be alright.
I’ve got all my life to learn.
I’ve got energy to burn.
and I’ll survive.
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart.
Decided to attend
a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms
who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They’re not those chained up little people
stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by
and just expect us to be free
you’d better call ahead first
’cause we’re probably busy!