...whether to write by person or by time line...and I never know who may still be looking at this since it's been forever since I last posted - but I'm feeling the need to write again so here goes...by time line...
So school kicked off at the end of August and went right into cross country for Jared and Alex. It has been a lot of fun attending the meets and cheering them on and watching them both improve incredibly over the last 2 months. I think doing the individual competitions has been more exciting for them than the team ones, since our team is very small. But considering that this is the first official year for having a varsity high school cross country team 6 young men is not so bad of a start. Jared has really pushed himself and even impressed his coach. Last week when it was cold and started raining on them while practicing - the coach told the students they could turn around and head back to the school if it was too cold or continue on and finish the full run (which I think may have been a 5 mile run). And just when the coach thought Jared was going to turn around at the crosswalk and head back he pushed on and completed the full run! Jared came into my office soaked to the bone and shivering - the poor guy, but he did great! They have one last meet tomorrow that is an individual run as well - should be fun!
We then had our first week vacation in October in which the 5 of us went to Kill Devil Hills, NC. It was an amazing week full of beauty and relaxation with a little tourism and fun thrown in. For those who are not familiar with this area it is right on the coast, the Outer Banks, which is a long strip of sand that we humans have been crazy enough to build homes, businesses, condo's and hotels along. The condo's we stayed in were facing the Atlantic ocean and so the view was incredible every day. We swam in the ocean almost every day except for 1 day in the middle of the week because it was very cold and the ocean was pretty turbulent, and then the last day we did not swim either. Kill Devil Hills is also the location where the Wright Brother's took their first flight - so we went to the monument and got to see a replica of that first plane along with a couple of buildings - one they lived in and one the worked on the plane in. Then there was the hang gliding - which I think the video's can kind of speak for themselves. I'll post them on here later. It was a wonderful time and we hope we can go back again next year!
We had to leave our vacation a day early as the boys had their PSATs that Saturday and then Jared had to get packed up for this 10th grade curriculum week long trip. While Alex was finalizing his internship with the Art Therapy Institute.
So here I'm going to go into a proud momma moment with Alex. Out of all the students in his class he was the only one who completely cold called for his internship. The other students either did their internships with current or alumni parents or they interned at a place of business that their parents have friends or contacts in. So to me that first step was HUGE as some grown-ups cannot even do that - and he did it on his own. We googled Art Therapy and found the Art Therapy Institute in Durham and he grabbed the phone, called the number and left a detailed message. When he didn't hear back the next day he did it again and left his email that time, and sure enough he received an email and everything went forward from there. The other great thing is that instead of just a week internship, which is what our school requires, he is going to intern for the whole school year. He was originally supposed to work with some refugees children from Burma but because he would have had to leave class one day week that didn't quite work out - but he will be doing one-on-one work with a young girl named McKayla who has some issues (not sure what yet) but would benefit from art therapy. Alex will be starting the week after this one - as soon as his TB tests come back and we get a background check done - then he's all set! I'm very proud of him!
Alex also had his 17th birthday during that intern week - and though it was low-key I think he's enjoying his new birthday present (no, not a car) but a mini-laptop. It's pretty sweet!
Jared came back from a week of hanging out with his classmates and friends having learned about textiles. I think he was happy to be home and sleeping in his bed once again. :)
The boys also hosted a Halloween party at our house on Halloween. I think it was a success. We had 20 teenagers at our house from 6 until midnight and then the girls had to go home. We ended up with a total of 8 guys staying the night and boy, they were up late, until about 4am I think! There was loud music (boy those Bose speakers can really play loudly), lots of pizza and junk food and the hot tub - all was good!
We've received their interim grades so far this year and they are both doing awesome! Mostly A's with a couple of B's - so all-in-all they are doing great! Jared is in the midst of learning his lines for the 10th grade play, "You Can't Take It With You" and Alex is reading and discussing Parsival. And starting next week we move right into basketball season... yippee! It was so much fun last year that I cannot wait for this year. We have been allowed back on the league so there are many more games than last year and these games will be real ones - go Fighting Gnomes!!
So, as you can see, every day we are home very late, and now that we have fallen back in time it's pitch black by the time we get home. It's homework (prepping for Shannon), dinner, hot tub, and then one of our many netflix tv show addictions before going to bed to start all over again.
Shannon is doing well in his class - he just accepted a new student - Michelle Nelson. So he is at 24 students for this year. It sounds like there may be one more coming for a visit after our holiday break, but they won't be joining until 4th grade. He is knee deep in farming and dirt with his class - which is all fun!
I'm constantly kept busy in the office at school - besides my normal daily work stuff we are in the middle of an audit and trying to become accredited so I have taken on many other tasks that would not normally be mine to help things flow smoothly and get completed. I have given myself the nickname "Xena"! :) And just around the corner is re-enrollment - so it's never ending! I can honestly say that I am never bored at work - ever!
The guys are still practicing driving with their permits - but I don't think they are driving enough. We need to step that up some and Shannon and I need to become lazy and say we "just can't drive" and see how that goes?? I still think a defensive driving course would be the best thing for both of them so I need to take the time to research that and find out how much it will cost us...ugh!
I think that's all the news for now. I'm sure I missed some things along the way - but at least this is something.
Happy Martinmas everyone!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Asphalt Driveway
Okay, this one is much newer... just happened today! We really wanted to do cement on our driveway but the cost was outrageous! It would have been 3 times as much as what we just paid for the asphalt. So, sorry all you "Save the Chip Seals" out there in AZ! ;)
New Living Room Furniture!
Okay, so it's been 3 months since my last post and nothing has changed... NOT! Here are a few photos of our new living room furniture we got back on Mother's Day. It's awesome, comfortable and can seat 6 comfortably (not counting the old rocking chair). Enjoy!
Friday, March 13, 2009
What Does One Do in a Waldorf High School???
Jared and Charlie standing next to their drawings of each other with pastels.
Jared's Fairy House!
Jared's Fairy house and Bennet's Fairy house!
Jared's, Bennet's and I don't know who's on the right...fairy homes in the fairyfield at school!Can't you just see the fairies living there?! I can!
Eleven Days...
So it's been eleven days since my last, very quick post of the picture of dot kitty and I'm not really sure what I should or need to write about. So this is going to be one of those ramblings of many different things about life... I guess.
Shannon's health is doing very well. Ever since he started the beta blockers his BP has been the most normal it's probably ever been his whole life. He has been hitting about 135/80 every day! So yipeeee!!!! He is getting weaned off the HCTZ as the Dr. doesn't think it's really doing anything for him. So that's good in the whole drug taking event.
I am hoping to finally finish up my training for the animal shelter tomorrow which will be nice to start doing. Alex, at this point, is still going through with it as well. I'm sure as time goes on that may change, but for now he is still interested in taking care of and helping animals in need. They are building their new animal shelter about 1.5 miles up the road from school so we'll be able to volunteer there and walk or bike to it on the days we do it which will be awesome!
Alex and Jared are doing well in school. It seems to be that they are enjoying high school very much and have a great experience with the classes they have and with their friends. We still have a few of the kids over every other weekend for xbox, basketball and just plain goofiness. Having 4 teenage boys every other weekend means going through a lot of food and drink! All-in-all everything is going very well!
The weather here is insane. New England has nothing on North Carolina - trust me on that. I honestly do not look forward more than 24 hours in the weather predictions online. Consistantly the weather cannot stay the same for more than 3 days. I know, I know, we haven't been trapped in snow, ice, snow, ice and more snow for the last 5 months but I know if I were living in NH or Cape Cod right now that I would expect, snow, ice, snow, ice... not 70's, 30's, 80's, 30's, 70's, 30's, 60's, 20's, within 3 days or less! HA!
The forcythia has bloomed, daffodills, crocus, and about 3 trees have bloomed and then freeze then back to blooming again?! And it's only March 13th! The bee's are incredibly confused the poor things! So be happy with your more consistent, albeit boring weather.
I'm sure I'll find my topic of venting or frustration soon but until then that's about it.
Shannon's health is doing very well. Ever since he started the beta blockers his BP has been the most normal it's probably ever been his whole life. He has been hitting about 135/80 every day! So yipeeee!!!! He is getting weaned off the HCTZ as the Dr. doesn't think it's really doing anything for him. So that's good in the whole drug taking event.
I am hoping to finally finish up my training for the animal shelter tomorrow which will be nice to start doing. Alex, at this point, is still going through with it as well. I'm sure as time goes on that may change, but for now he is still interested in taking care of and helping animals in need. They are building their new animal shelter about 1.5 miles up the road from school so we'll be able to volunteer there and walk or bike to it on the days we do it which will be awesome!
Alex and Jared are doing well in school. It seems to be that they are enjoying high school very much and have a great experience with the classes they have and with their friends. We still have a few of the kids over every other weekend for xbox, basketball and just plain goofiness. Having 4 teenage boys every other weekend means going through a lot of food and drink! All-in-all everything is going very well!
The weather here is insane. New England has nothing on North Carolina - trust me on that. I honestly do not look forward more than 24 hours in the weather predictions online. Consistantly the weather cannot stay the same for more than 3 days. I know, I know, we haven't been trapped in snow, ice, snow, ice and more snow for the last 5 months but I know if I were living in NH or Cape Cod right now that I would expect, snow, ice, snow, ice... not 70's, 30's, 80's, 30's, 70's, 30's, 60's, 20's, within 3 days or less! HA!
The forcythia
I'm sure I'll find my topic of venting or frustration soon but until then that's about it.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Xbox Dilemma
So for many years I have been a huge proponent against the Xbox. I'm sure you're thinking, "Well of course you are since you are a Waldorf family." but that is actually not it. I think it started when I saw the movie "Bowling for Columbine" back when we lived on Cape Cod - and even though our boys are nothing like those two young men it just made this impression that there really is nothing good or redeeming about having an Xbox (or any of the other myriad of game consoles that one can sink their money into). Besides, we have our PC and a million games that the boys can play - some of them the same games that you get for Xbox.
Speaking of money, that is the other huge reason for never owning one. I cringe every time I look at how much a new game costs for one of those devices. They are as costly, or even more so, than a new game for our PC. So it just never seemed like a smart investment of our money, our time and our children's braincells.
Fastforward to our new life here in NC.
Ahh, high school! Even at a Waldorf school high school it is still full of hormones and laziness and strange desires for stupid and annoying things...like Xbox's. So for the first time one started coming into our life. Only on the weekends, and usually only every other weekend. One of the other boys that is good friends of both our sons owns an Xbox and also has 4 controllers.
So at some point last year as this "fun" continued to ooze into our house Jared really wanted an Xbox - and for the first time ever I actually started to consider purchasing one for him. Both Jared and Alex seemed to enjoy playing it with their friends. And though the one game that they played over and over (Halo) seemed pretty intense and violent they were mostly laughing and having fun. There was the occasional grumble or argument about someone "cheating" but they overcame their issues. So, because things seemed to be going well I decided to start looking into getting a used one (Ebay or Craigslist) as I was not about to pay full price for one.
Then the day happened - and thank goodness it did before I had purchased something.
Jared started getting stressed and angry and both Alex and Sasha. They must have been ganging up on him and it pushed him over the edge. He started yelling at Alex, I mean really yelling. He was shaking and incredibly angry. Of course, Alex and Sasha just didn't get the fact that he was upset and just continued laughing, which only made things worse. Luckily things never got physical - but I think they were close. He continued screaming at Alex and wouldn't stop. It took a threat from me to finally get him to listen. And that was it! No more thoughts of Xbox...no more Xbox in our house for awhile either.
Weeks went by with no Xbox coming over. Then, slowly it started coming back - with promises that the outburst and anger wouldn't happen again. All 3 boys tried to slowly convince me to give in and let the boys get their own Xbox and I was adamant that there was no way that we would have one of our own. I think my exact words were, "Jared can buy one with his own money if he wants to but it's never coming into our house." So Jared and Alex gave up asking, but Sasha continued for a short time - and then, eventually he even stopped asking.
They continued playing with Sasha's when he came over and one of the other boys, Kimani, also would play with them - so it was always the 4 of them having fun and never really getting angry or upset. They would stop and go out for a walk with the dog or bounce on the trampoline, any physical ways to blow off any stress and get moving. Things were going amazingly well.
Fast forward 5 months to just past this Christmas.
Alex had been having lots of opportunities for socializing with his classmates and having parties or going to the movies - things like that. Jared had a few offerings from one of his old classmates to go do things but unfortunately it was the one boy that we can't trust as he had gotten into some trouble in 8th grade and Jared had followed along - so there was no trust with this boy.
So, as time went by Alex was always getting "Yes" and Jared was constantly getting "No". As a parent I was truly starting to feel guilty and it was eating at me. I kept hoping that Jared would want to start inviting some of his classmates over to our house like Alex did or make plans to go see a movie - anything that didn't involve that one boy. But, Jared isn't as into the social scene as Alex. Jared knows that we would be happy to have the whole 9th grade over for a party if he wants (all 19 of them) and we would make it work - but he is not interested in it.
So the boys had been given money as a gift from their grandma and they were trying to decide what to do with it. So, after many months of silence and fair play with the occasional Xbox Jared came to me very grown up and kind and asked, "Could we please use our money to get an Xbox 360 that we can get online and play with Sasha and Kimani without them always having to come over?" I just couldn't say no this time.
And that was how the Xbox invaded our lives though they have very specific rules and understand that if they fight, argue or are not doing their homework then the Xbox is gone.
Speaking of money, that is the other huge reason for never owning one. I cringe every time I look at how much a new game costs for one of those devices. They are as costly, or even more so, than a new game for our PC. So it just never seemed like a smart investment of our money, our time and our children's braincells.
Fastforward to our new life here in NC.
Ahh, high school! Even at a Waldorf school high school it is still full of hormones and laziness and strange desires for stupid and annoying things...like Xbox's. So for the first time one started coming into our life. Only on the weekends, and usually only every other weekend. One of the other boys that is good friends of both our sons owns an Xbox and also has 4 controllers.
So at some point last year as this "fun" continued to ooze into our house Jared really wanted an Xbox - and for the first time ever I actually started to consider purchasing one for him. Both Jared and Alex seemed to enjoy playing it with their friends. And though the one game that they played over and over (Halo) seemed pretty intense and violent they were mostly laughing and having fun. There was the occasional grumble or argument about someone "cheating" but they overcame their issues. So, because things seemed to be going well I decided to start looking into getting a used one (Ebay or Craigslist) as I was not about to pay full price for one.
Then the day happened - and thank goodness it did before I had purchased something.
Jared started getting stressed and angry and both Alex and Sasha. They must have been ganging up on him and it pushed him over the edge. He started yelling at Alex, I mean really yelling. He was shaking and incredibly angry. Of course, Alex and Sasha just didn't get the fact that he was upset and just continued laughing, which only made things worse. Luckily things never got physical - but I think they were close. He continued screaming at Alex and wouldn't stop. It took a threat from me to finally get him to listen. And that was it! No more thoughts of Xbox...no more Xbox in our house for awhile either.
Weeks went by with no Xbox coming over. Then, slowly it started coming back - with promises that the outburst and anger wouldn't happen again. All 3 boys tried to slowly convince me to give in and let the boys get their own Xbox and I was adamant that there was no way that we would have one of our own. I think my exact words were, "Jared can buy one with his own money if he wants to but it's never coming into our house." So Jared and Alex gave up asking, but Sasha continued for a short time - and then, eventually he even stopped asking.
They continued playing with Sasha's when he came over and one of the other boys, Kimani, also would play with them - so it was always the 4 of them having fun and never really getting angry or upset. They would stop and go out for a walk with the dog or bounce on the trampoline, any physical ways to blow off any stress and get moving. Things were going amazingly well.
Fast forward 5 months to just past this Christmas.
Alex had been having lots of opportunities for socializing with his classmates and having parties or going to the movies - things like that. Jared had a few offerings from one of his old classmates to go do things but unfortunately it was the one boy that we can't trust as he had gotten into some trouble in 8th grade and Jared had followed along - so there was no trust with this boy.
So, as time went by Alex was always getting "Yes" and Jared was constantly getting "No". As a parent I was truly starting to feel guilty and it was eating at me. I kept hoping that Jared would want to start inviting some of his classmates over to our house like Alex did or make plans to go see a movie - anything that didn't involve that one boy. But, Jared isn't as into the social scene as Alex. Jared knows that we would be happy to have the whole 9th grade over for a party if he wants (all 19 of them) and we would make it work - but he is not interested in it.
So the boys had been given money as a gift from their grandma and they were trying to decide what to do with it. So, after many months of silence and fair play with the occasional Xbox Jared came to me very grown up and kind and asked, "Could we please use our money to get an Xbox 360 that we can get online and play with Sasha and Kimani without them always having to come over?" I just couldn't say no this time.
And that was how the Xbox invaded our lives though they have very specific rules and understand that if they fight, argue or are not doing their homework then the Xbox is gone.
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