I took the kids out for an escape day.  Homeschoolers can do that sort of thing. Naysayers think that we do it far too much, but it would interrupt the things that the kids are working on-neither they nor I want to do that. So we decided that the unseasonably warm weather warranted a day out of the house. I also work from home, so it was nice for me to at least get some fresh air. I lugged the laptop to the car and we went to the park. Our park is lovely, it has electrical outlets! I was not able to get online, but could work while the kids ran around and played. We grabbed lunch and stayed for almost three hours. While we were there, we talked a lot about the house, our family and basically *things*. Some points I heard, that stand out in... [Read more]

Mom’s home sold this evening. Well, to be honest, anything can happen between now and the actual day that it literally gets sold. However, it was a rough day for her. Her voice was different, she didn’t even bother to go in the other room when the real estate agent called. I believe she was in shock. I was not quite sure if I should have heard the conversation, but we have an open concept home, and I was cooking dinner. Other than turn off the stove, and leave the room, what could I have done? I got her a pad of paper, once I saw that she was trying to take notes in an already used sticky-note she had sitting there. I mean, come on. These are the moments that bring out my protective response. I can’t bear to see her confused... [Read more]

Perception is a funny thing. We all see things in our own unique way, and often we don’t even notice the difference in views, until it is too late. Take yesterday for example. I had a late evening class to go to. My husband also had to go out at about the same time, to teach a Boy Scout class. When things like this happen, he and I divvy up the children, based on who can manage what. Everything was organized to the minute, as large families have to do. Fast forward to afternoon, when I am getting ready to go. Oldest is cooking dinner and mom asks where I am going. “To my class.” I tell her. This is not news. I have been excitedly talking about it for about two weeks. “Oh, so I am going to be watching the kids again, then?”... [Read more]

My mom has a treasured family tree, tucked neatly in her dresser. Dad’s sister worked on it for years, and had poster sized copies made. Our family has a colorful past, from the French countryside, and the historical West-cattle country. The combination has created a rich history that my children ask about time and time again. We talk about how amazing their great, great paternal grandmother’s cooking was and how grandma didn’t have shoes until she went to school! Very interesting to a group of hooligans, err, I mean boys. We have done some online research to list what family history that the kids and I could trace back. I like to use sites devoted to family history, since they cut out a lot of the useless searching that can... [Read more]

You know the feeling: You walk into a room and just stare around, wondering what it was that you came in to do? That happens all the time to me. It is sort of a family joke. Or it was, before mom came. Since she does it a LOT, we have stopped teasing me about it. It lost its appeal when we saw how upset that mom/grandma gets about doing it. I was reading an article in Consumer Reports, On Health newsletter, which mom gets every month. The topic was restoring mental clarity. Here are a few things that they recommend we all do to help us remember things better. Check for medical reasons – I am paraphrasing here, but have you or your parent had a recent checkup? Your medications can induce some cloudy thinking. So can some health issues... [Read more]