Wednesday, June 04, 2008
WFMW: I'm bored!!
"Mom, I'm bored!" Oh, don't get me started. But it's inevitable, right? Most kids are used to the structure of every day school, whether homeschool or dayschool, so when vacation rolls around, it's easy to become bored with the lack of activity.
So here's what works for me: I plan certain activities for certain days. A week or so before school is out, I go the the local library and check out their scheduled events for the summer. Ours offers several things a week, but I choose the ones that all four of my kids can enjoy. For instance, yesterday we went to see a magician- hilarious! I also know that one of our local theaters offers $1 movies in the summer on Tuesday and Thursday, so the kids choose which movie they want to see, and we plan for that particular day.
I don't book up every day of the week, but this is helpful in scheduling certain chores too. If the kids know we are leaving on Tuesday at 10:00 am, then they also know they must get up and straighten their rooms and put away toys before we leave. See? It's a win/win situation!
Labels: summer, works for me
Monday, June 02, 2008
Guess what we made...
So, school's out, and what do I want to do? COOK!!! Ironic, huh? I know the weather is hot, humid, and hazy here in Suburbia, but I've been cooped up in a classroom for the better part of 9 and 1/2 months. When the kids got up this morning, I told them we were meeting another family at the strawberry farm (which will be the blueberry farm in two weeks) to pick some berries. They asked, "Are we making jam?" And even though I have never, in the history of my culinary experience, made jam, I responded with a confident, "YES!"
Then we got home with the berries, hulled and washed them, and I looked up the recipe: FOUR CUPS OF SUGAR?!?!?!?! You've got to be kidding me. There must be a better way, I told myself. So I called Taylor, and she calmly assured me that I could substitute that garbage for two cups of Sucanat with honey (just Google it; I don't have a link).
So we did, and now I have sparkling jars of jam on my kitchen counter and WAAAAAAY too many berries left over, even after we have all been popping them all day long. Now I'm thinking strawberry/blueberry jam for tomorrow. Yeah, blueberries are on sale at Publix this week, but I'm sure we'll be out there in two weeks, picking again. Ooh! I have a great blueberry-pear bread recipe to share with y'all. Stay tuned....
Friday, May 23, 2008
Finally...
First things first: that is not me. I know, shocking. But it so obviously isn't me, because my hair is much darker. Aside from that...let's move on, shall we?
The 07-08 school year is over! A few days of post-planning is all that is left. The end of the schoolyear is always bitter-sweet for me. I am glad to be done with planning and grading for a while; however, I really do enjoy my students and miss seeing them on a day-to-day basis.
BUT. Better things await for the Suburban household, and although I can't quite give away everything, I can say that it looks a lot like "not going back to teach next fall." There. Was I too obvious?
Labels: family, school, summer
Friday, June 01, 2007
School's out for summer...
Yeah, baby!!! Last Friday was cause for much rejoicing in the Suburban household- and at our school. We teachers didn't have the heart to tell the students that we look forward to summer just as much as they do, if not MORE!!!
Then I had to put in three days of post-planning work in which I basically laid out my lesson plans for the whole year. Let me say that again, in case you didn't hear it the first time- FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. That's four classes at 36 weeks each (turning on my math brain) to equal 144 weeks of planning.
So here in Suburbia, we have many things on tap for the summer break, including, but not limited to a trip to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood with the family, and a week-long getaway to Palm Springs, CA for just Rob and me. Woohoo! His company has an annual corporate convention, and this year it is in Palm Springs. You can't imagine how excited I am about that! Although I don't think we will play much golf, the resort where we will stay is (surprise) a golf resort. I'll think of you all while I'm there, I promise!
Then I had to put in three days of post-planning work in which I basically laid out my lesson plans for the whole year. Let me say that again, in case you didn't hear it the first time- FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. That's four classes at 36 weeks each (turning on my math brain) to equal 144 weeks of planning.
So here in Suburbia, we have many things on tap for the summer break, including, but not limited to a trip to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood with the family, and a week-long getaway to Palm Springs, CA for just Rob and me. Woohoo! His company has an annual corporate convention, and this year it is in Palm Springs. You can't imagine how excited I am about that! Although I don't think we will play much golf, the resort where we will stay is (surprise) a golf resort. I'll think of you all while I'm there, I promise!
Labels: summer, summer lovin', vacation
