Ketchup...

I have been rather panicky about catching up online.   And have to keep telling myself its supposed to be fun...and they'll understand real life.

I'm not believing it too well.

I just re-caught up with my SIR.  I haven't left comments yet.  So so far behind. 

But I did my major goal today, and that was school.

And then I read a comment about home-schooling that just left me shaking my head.  I have a violent blog just oozing out of my pores.  

If you haven't researched homeschooling, if you haven't done it, if you haven't lived it, its very hard to understand it.   And one shouldn't make a judgement about it if they haven't lived in it.   Its very similar to many other aspects of life.   Judging is just unfair.   I know...I do it frequently and it always bites me in the butt.

Homeschooling works for EVERY child.  (honest)  Of course it might be much harder work for some parent and child combinations.  *snigger*   Trust me Zeria and I do battle royal on many days.   But even with those battles we both learn.    And its the ones who don't fit in school that do best at home.   Yes, school also works for a lot of children, but it also hurts a lot of children.  NOt specifically because of the teachers, or the peers, just for lots of reasons.      I thought I thrived in school.   But in reality as I look back I didn't.   I had a nervous break-down in the second grade.    All because I pushed myself so hard.

Homeschooling took away the competition and I was able to learn, not regurgitate.

I want a child that learns.   Even my homeschool friends talk about "holes".   I'm so afraid my child might get holes, they say almost every frickin' time I get around them.  I so HATE that expression. 

I have holes in my education.   And I graduated from college.   But its not because I didn't get an education.  Its because I heard certain things and let them go flying through one ear and out the other.  I created my own holes.   *giggles* 

I want my kids to learn.  I want them to take stuff into their lives that they can use.   I want them to have the skills to fill the holes, when they find they need something thats missing in their education.

I have those skills to fill the holes if I actually needed the information I disregarded.    If I actually need algebra for something, I have the skills to go find a way to learn it...or pay someone to do it for me.  (snigger)

I guess my reaction to the blog I read was the word can't...and won't.

Never say can't or won't...or never for that matter.  They are words that put limitations on stuff.    

Two cents from a mommy....who is still filling her holes. 

Woo hoo home!  Kisses the ground.

Actually I've been home since Thursday night.  But just moping around.

I spent the last day and a half playing ketchup on xanga sites and staring lots.

Our vacation was wonderful.  Quiet, peaceful...(well as peaceful as you can get with six kids)  Saw some new country, some of it beautiful, some of it well *coughs*  ugly. 

I have pictures.   Which I still haven't gotten off my camera.   I know I will put at least a few up probably Monday or so.

The highlights.   Lake Cascade was marvelous.  We spent three days just staring at a gorgeous lake, swimming when we wanted, sitting when we wanted.  Our tent was literally 25 feet from our swimming spot.

Of course I could have lived without spraining my ankle and being flat for several days.   There was a wee hole in the water and sand.    But it was still fun to be there.  My ankle is still quite swollen, but other then that I'm doing fine.

I'm swirling with writing ideas.   And have a new name that I'm dying to use.   Just trying to figure out where....

Extreme funny;  As we were driving through tunnels on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge.   Kaylin announced.  "I burped..so I would have something to do."

Yeah...most of the country that day was about that boring.  *snigger*

My children have started two new collections.  Feathers and bottle caps.  Every single rest stop, camp site, etc had them.   Our van is full.   The feathers are fun.  The bottle caps...well I remember collecting them, and rather feel inclined to apologizing to my mom. 

Speaking of feathers.   I would love a book on feathers as Kaylin is just fascinated by them any suggestions?

We did a lot of of following the Oregon Trail as we do each summer.   And thoroughly enjoyed an interpretive center with wagons, and models set up near Baker City.

And I finally got to see Hells Canyon of the Snake River.  I read a historic biography about it years ago and have wanted to see it ever since...I now want to go back.  Its just wild.

My 'ils thoroughly enjoyed there grandbabies, and were also glad to see them leave.   They just get tired.  Poor souls.  (snigger)  I got to hold my niece for approximately 30 seconds...her parents aren't sharing too well.  But it was fun to meet Amy.   She's still smaller then Jeremiah when he was born......

The biggest excitement actually happened today.  I'm holding Jeremiah and just shaking.  We have been religious ever since Jeremiah started using the walker about watching the front door.  My whole house is level, so no dangers, except the front step.   This morning he was terrorizing the house in it and I heard him in the entryway.  Due to my sprained ankle.  I said "ROB the front door is open!"  He looked up and groaned.  "Hurry Jer's in the entryway."  HE stood up...and clunk.

We heard the walker fall.

I have no recollection of getting to the front door, but I was less then one second behind Jeremiah.

Big scratch on his head.  And a bit of a bump.  Rob and I were just sick.  It could have been so so much worse.  Angels were watching over him.

We have now added a board that the rest of us can step over to the front door, but will stop Jer's walker from doing the same.  Its apparently hopeless to convince the kiddos just to close the door.  I know understand why ped's hate walkers.

Hugs Jeremiah again and shudders.

On to bigger and better things.  Somehow I suspect that won't be his last head bump..........