Role reversal.

The other day, youngest son had a headache and was trying to watch some TV. His Dad was in the mood to play with the toy plane, however. Youngest son asked Dad to quit flying the plane and be quiet, but Dad disobeyed and flew the plane again. It hit youngest son in the head (it doesn't hurt) and he turned around and gave his Dad a look that looked exactly like a parent would give a disobedient child. Dad's face took on the expression of a disobedient child who has been caught. It was a complete role reversal, just for a few seconds, but it was so hilarious.

Missing the Routine?!

This is weird and I can't believe it, but I miss our routine. I haven't been doing my morning list because the kids are off from school this week and the tempation to take this week off is too great, but at the same time, I miss it. I miss having everything done early in the day and exercising. It's crazy that I don't just do it today anyway, but there is something about the fact that I don't have to, that makes me resist doing it. I looked up when I started my morning routine and it was November 12, so I successfully did it for 6 weeks before Christmas break. I am very proud of that. I can see that my upper arms are becoming more toned from exercising with weights. I think the fact that I have tied my routine to my kids school routine will help us get started as soon as January gets here because I want to get started again. Why don't I just start today? I don't know. I told you it was weird.

One of our favorites this year.

Every year, there are present selections that bomb and ones that do very well. This is something we got for our youngest son. It is a remote control foam airplane that is supposed to be flown indoors. Everyone, especially Dad, is having a lot of fun with this plane. (Except Max! He hates it, poor guy. He hides in our bedroom!) Here it is flying past our entryway.

A Better Day.

So far, today is a better day at work. I am still trying to deal with the new computer system and feeling that everything has changed. It's hard to change after being on the same system for 8 years but I am hanging in there. I'll have my nose to the grindstone for the next couple of days, trying to get my work done so I can take Sunday off. We have some family gatherings on Saturday and Sunday - the last 2 Christmas parties and I want to be able to go and enjoy them and not worry about work. (for once!)

Back to Work.

Today the kids have "play all day day" as my youngest calls it. We don't have to go anywhere and they can finally enjoy their Christmas presents without interuption. Their Dad and I have to go back to work. Joy.

Here are some messages I've gotten from my computer this morning, which will indicate how this morning is going so far.

Welcome. Enter password.
Start downloading information. Please wait ....
.........................................................................
Updates failed. Abort? Retry?
Abort.
Stand by. Turn off. Restart.
Restart. (wait while rebooting)
USB human interface device not recognized.
bong. bong. bong. bong. bong.
(unplug and replug USB human interface device about 5 times with no response)
(sigh)
Stand by. Turn off. Restart.
Restart. (wait while rebooting.)
This time the human interface USB device is recognized.
Welcome. Enter password.
swwooshhshhwwooshhhwoooshhh (sound of dial-up dialing up)
The connection to the server has failed.
Please wait ................................................................................
.............................

One hour and 21 minutes later, I start typing my first report of the day.
Then I get a phone call.
Then my 8-year-old walks in the room and orders a triple decker peanut butter sandwich. Apparently peanut butter is one of your more difficult sandwiches to make and he can't yet do it without tearing the bread.

Sigh.

Merry Christmas.

I hope your Christmas was truly happy. We are taking a little break between events right now and I'm hoping for a nap. I did not get much sleep last night. I didn't get to bed until 2:00 a.m. and my youngest popped out of bed at 3:30 saying that Santa had come. I had to be the meanie and make him go back to bed. This mama is too old to get by on 1 1/2 hours of sleep. Oldest son got up at 5:30 and was going to rouse the house, but thankfully, his Dad stopped him. Finally, at 8:00 a.m. I was ready to get up!

The middle-of-the-night thing is one of the things I don't like about Santa. How are parents supposed to get any sleep? The fact that we do all the work and he gets all the credit really bugs me too. This year, old Santa had a more limited role than he has in years past. This year, all the really cool stuff came from Mom and Dad and Dad finally got the credit he deserved for waiting in the Best Buy parking lot for 12 1/2 hours on the day after Thanksgiving!

Our house looks like it was attacked by a toy-throwing angry mob and I am not going to clean it up. Not today. I'm going to take a nap.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours ... This is Max, wearing his new Christmas jacket and wishing you a happy holiday. (I'm sure that's what he's thinking.)

Here's a report on how our holiday has gone so far. Yesterday, we went to see the movie "Night at the Museum" which is excellent and I highly recommend it. It is rated PG because of 1 bad word, but it is very cute and funny.

This morning, we watched the weather report and it said that there might be snow on the day after Christmas. The 8-year-old said "Finally, we're going to get the snow we deserve."

Yesterday, same son couldn't find his shoes when we were ready to go to the movies. I tried to talk him into wearing his sister's old shoes are only a size too big, light blue and white athletic shoes. He said they were "girlie". I said that they were blue and white and nobody would think they looked girlie. He said "If they've ever been worn by a girl, they are girlie." I guess it has girl cooties on it from then on. Who knew?

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

The Carnival of Homeschooling, Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve and the last day!

The Carnival of Homeschooling is at Principaled Discovery. Take a look.

My kids are counting down to Christmas and now it has gotten so close that they are saying it is Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve. It is so funny when they do this. They are finishing their last day of school before the break today and the undercurrent of excitement is running high.

I'm working and trying to get used to the new computer program and only going at about half my usual speed. I hope it gets better. The lack of progress is frustrating!

That's it for today, our last day of our normal routine for a while. I hope it won't be too difficult to get started back in January.

One last thing; can anyone recommend a good independent study high school program? Please!