Teacher Planning Day

I need a day off. I went crazy this morning. I was at the table saying a prayer asking Heavenly Father for patience when Elijah knocked on Quianna's door to tell her it was school time. Then Quianna yells, "KimKim.... KimKim" then Elijah came in the kitchen noticed I was praying, said "Shh!" But Quianna was in her room so she didn't hear, so then "KimKim!" continued. I heard Quianna coming out of her room and she said, "KimKim! I was yelling for you!" I had had it! My patience was gone! If I ever had some this morning. I said, "I was praying! I was asking Heavenly Father for patience - which is completely lost now! ... I can't do home school! I don't know why I even thought I could."

I just stared off with my head in my hand thinking, "What do I do?" I came to the conclusion after a while that if I can use this day to help me get my head above water, the rest of the year might be better. So today my mission is to figure out curriculum for the the rest of the week, I am going to get our portfolio's in order, I have ordered some math books off Amazon which will come on Wednesday, I am going to make some phone calls for All-City, and I am going to clean the kitchen really good. It's a busy day - but I can do it! I HAVE to do it or else the day is going to waste.

The kids job is to clean their rooms really good and to rake the pine needles. Other than that - they get a day off. I figure, public school teachers get a day off to plan and get their stuff done, why can't I?

This whole year I have been trying to play catch up in math for the kids. Finally I will have some books to help me so I am not making it up as I go. I wish I had ordered them earlier.

Bones

I am hooked. When I was visiting I saw my dad watching a show. I asked what he was watching and he said "Bones." Later, my mom had said, "yeah, dad watches bones, but uck, I don't like watching it." My thought was maybe because of the bad language or immorality. So I put it aside.

The other night while we were watching football the commercial for the next episode kept coming on. I thought it looked funny and noticed the series was on Netflix. I have watched probably the first 8-10 episodes since Sunday. It has been funny and pleasantly mostly clean - especially compared to other shows. I just hope it stays that way.

A couple of the reasons why I am probably hooked is that Agent Booth is Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a show I watched when I was in high school with my sister-in-law Erin and I thought he was so cute! Also, Brennan looks a lot like my friend Holly. It is a lot of fun. A crime scene but something that doesn't give my nightmares or makes it so I can't sleep like Criminal Minds does. I will say that there are some times that I can't stomach and so I have to look away. I think that is the reason why my mom didn't like it - which surprises me because she loves the movie The Mummy, but I think it can be over the top.

Venting Session

I think I am done working for All-city. I kept saying last year that this year will be my last year. I thought it would be different because we have a new executive director. I just don't know... I don't like it; however, it is my only outlet except for Sierra to practice my graphic design - and All-city pays more than Sierra. It's just a whole lot easier to work with my husband and Bob than it is to work for Rob and Alan. I just don't like it anymore. I don't know what to do though because it would take away possible income I can earn.

I really don't like my job. Maybe its just because I am lazy and want to do other things than work in my life - like sew, or clean and organize my house, and teach my kids. Unfortunately I can't earn an income from those things. I am so tired of money. Why can't we just use a barter system? Forget about money and enjoy life?

Spring Cleaning...?

...In the Fall. Now that I am done with school, I have some time on my hands. Its not much between homeschooling, regular housework, being a chauffeur, and working as a graphic designer, but its something, and I am using this time for organizing and purging our house. The biggest task that we are working on right now is the Office. We are turning it into a closet/music room. We have gone through and thrown away trash, organized the stuff into boxes and now we need to finish that step, put the desk on craigslist, and start looking for a filing system or bookshelf so we can take the stuff in the boxes out and file them. I think most of my stuff can just stay in the garage, but Brian has music that he wants to file.

Anyway, it feels so good to purge! We have donated a lot of stuff. The next place - once the office is done - is the garage. Those are the projects for Brian and me to do together. He and I work on them for about an hour on the free nights that we have. Eventually we will get them done. I on the other hand have projects of my own. I am in the process of organizing our school stuff - including our desk. It is taking a while because I am analyzing how we use everything and trying to find the right spot for each object so it actually gets put back.

An update from the McCann Household

Home school is going well. We are still working on trying to figure out a routine. Monday we started early. We ate breakfast at 7:45 and started school at 8:15. Yesterday we started at 8:30. Today I think we'll start at 8:45. I am just so tired. It is hard for me to have a social life with Brian at night and get ready for home school in the morning. I am a person that loves and values my sleep. I can't pop out of bed and be ready. I have never really been like that - especially since I got married. I don't know why, but I started needing more sleep.

Anyway, the kids are working well and starting to understand the fact that I won't hold their hand every step of the way. and most importantly I am trying to teach them that I am not going to do their work for them - which I don't think they will ever understand.

Good habits are starting though. The kids have now read their scriptures every weekday morning for 15 minutes before school. The kids are learning how to do a short devotional. Each morning after the pledge of allegiance and prayer someone shares a scripture that they like. Elijah's has been mostly articles of faith, because its easy to find, but he's still young.

I have been trying to think about how long we will be doing home school because I like hanging out with the kids all day, but I think however when I start having kids - whenever that may be - I will put them back in regular school. I really miss the days when I could stay in my pjs and send Elijah off to school. We'll see how it goes.

For now, I am really liking it!