Doing better this week

Shay working on Math-U See

Zach working on Math-U-See

Well, this week has been the best week we have had since we started homeschooling. I think I have Steve to thank for that. Last week Zach refused to do his work when I asked him to & it ended up in arguments everyday. So Daddy stepped in and now I ask three times, give a time limit and if it is still not done the work become homework and that is over seen by Daddy.

Well Friday was a Daddy day. Zach was mad because Shay was spending the night at a friends house for her friends birthday. So to punish me, Zach refused to do his work for me. So, I took it away and Daddy took over after work. It wasn't pretty. Zach sat at the table until 8:00pm doing his work. He got a short break for dinner and that was it. He told Daddy it was funner having class with Mommy......

So, this week has been much better. Shaylin is still flying through her work. I rarely have problems getting her to do her work. I have problems keeping her busy after she is done. (No tv or computer from 10am - 6pm) Zach is getting his work done faster than he normally does. We will go to different thrift stores of they are done early. I think he likes bumming. He hopes he will get a new toy to bring home. Usually not the case but it doesn't stop him from asking.... ;-)

Down To One

One last playful swat.

Angle our cat of 12 years.

Buddies.

Angel stretching out waiting for a string to play with.

Shaylin saying goodbye.

Yesterday was a hard day. We turned in Shaylin's cat that she has had for 12 years. This was a hard choice to make and we all felt it. But she had taken up peeing on the bathroom & kitchen rugs. And the bench seat in the kid's bathroom. We gave her a litter box of her own and would keep her in Shay's room when we would leave the house. But as soon as she was let out, she would head to the bathroom and the rug.

So, after church on Sunday Steve came home and picked up Angel. He got Shaylin from late service at the church and they headed to the humane society. We figured it would be easier to do it right away instead of letting Shay get reattached.

While at the society, they walked through the adoption room. Steve said we was tempted to bring home a new cat but didn't. They did realized that Roxie was not there. She has been taken already. I just got a call on Angel. They are verifying her medical records. She will probably be adopted soon by a senior. She just needed a home where she was the only cat. I know she will do better where she is going.

So we now only have Carley. I feel sorry for her. She has lost both of her house mates in a weeks time. She is asking for more attention and is looking for Angel. That is the one reason Steve considered bring home a cat. But we will stay a single cat family for awhile.

Pictures of the Kids during sewing class

Shay is watching Zach use the serger for the first time.

Shay is cutting out pockets for her apron. After all that hard work,
she decided she didn't want them after all.

Grandma Jean is teaching Zach the difference between pressing and ironing.

Shay finally got her turn with the serger.

Preparing for a Hurricane

Well, if you have seen the weather forecasts lately you know it has been busy in the Atlantic. For us it is a waiting game. Do we board up or not? Well, at dinner we were discussing if we should evacuate or not. I am nervous just thinking about a big hurricane hitting us again. The sister hurricanes of 2004 at still a vivid memory for me.

Zach asked if we would go stay at Poppy Andre's work again. That is where we road out Francis. Steve & I in unison said "no!" It was nice to be able to stay there when we did but it sure was scary!! Just watching those huge bay doors breath in and out was freaky!! Than as the eye of the hurricane came ashore, we got the bad side and a tornado stuck the building we were in. It ripped a section of the roof off. The poor people in that office got soaked. We were huddled in a small interior office inside of a warehouse. Thank goodness the kids were sleeping. The four adults wished we were. We were with my in laws. As the eye hit the radio station went out. So we had 10 minutes of radio silence. Talk about nerve wracking. It was our only link to the outside. I was so happy when the winds started dying down.

Zach celebrated his 4th birthday in the aftermath of that storm. Shaylin celebrated her fourth birthday during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Now we may be sitting out Hurricane Ike for her 13th and Josephine for Zach's 8th birthday. The fun we have living in Florida!!

Well, Steve is out securing our new fencing to the porch rails outside and making sure it will withstand the coming storm. I will be taking inventory of our canned goods and possibly running to the store for more. I have to check to see what we have in the deep freezer that will hold us over. We are also filling up our gas tanks. Steve will get propane for the grill tomorrow. I got really good at cooking on the grill with my stoneware after the 2004 hurricanes. We were some of the last ones to get power back. We had trees that needed to trimmed back and lines that had to be restrung. It will be an adventure in homeschooling with no power. The poor kids. They wont be missing class like the rest of the county. hehehehe. At least they will have something to fill the time. When its flooded outside and to hot & humid to play outside you need indoor activities. I think we will get further ahead in our schooling.

OK, that is it for my ramblings about the coming storms. I just needed to express my fears and concerns somewhere. Not to mention the killer headaches that are coming from the lower barometric pressure we are having right now. UGH!!! I hope everyone stays safe. We will keep you updated on what our plans are as the time grows closer to make our final plans.

Our Sewing Projects

This is my apron I made.

Shay made this one.

Zach made this one.

We sure had fun making these. Zach has had his done for weeks. He has made a pillow for Angel to sleep on, case with zipper and all and is now working on a tote bag. Shay started working on Christmas ornaments today. And I started my gifts for my family. Sorry no hints...Other than my back is sore from cutting for 2 hours!! ;-)

I will post more pictures of the kids sewing later.

Sad Day Here

Today Steve brought the youngest of our three cats to the Humane Society. It was a hard choice to make. The oldest one has not been happy since we got her and started peeing all over the house. So we gave Shay the option to keep her in her room to see if the behavior changed. It seemed to have done the trick.

Yesterday I found the bathroom run was stained. It seems that Angel peed again. We thought it was Roxie. So we decided it was time. I have been fighting this for 3 months enough was enough. Zach cried and so did Shay.

Well wouldn't you know, we found out it was Angel who peed not Roxie. After a family meeting and family vote, we decided to turn Roxie in. Just to see if Angel would do better. Roxie never truly fit in with the other cats. Where Carley and Angel got along great. Carley is the coolest cat around.

Well, Steve is at the Humane Society turning in Roxie right now. Its sad. And Zach was a great trooper in all of this. I think we will be down to one cat soon. I am hopeful I am wrong and that Angel changes her ways. If not we will turn her in too. The mess is just too much to deal with. Roxie had her own issues. She would poop next the litter box instead of inside of it. I think Zach was tired of cleaning up after her. He gave her a hug, took a picture with her and went with daddy to turn her in. He didn't want to see his sissy cry anymore because her cat was leaving. He said it would be harder to give up Angel than it would to give up Roxie.

Goodbye Roxie. We love you and will miss you very much!!!!

Our Homeschooling Journey

Well, we have been at it for a month now. I would be lying if I said it was going smoothly. Shaylin has taken to it like a pro. She loves being at home and completes her work in record time. She is already more than half way through her Algebra 1 book. We decided to redo Algebra this year. She really struggled with it last year. I truly believe its because the teachers did not have enough time to spend with the kids to explain the areas that they didn't understand. We will be ordering Geometry before Christmas. Math-U-See rocks!!

Zach is another story altogether. He is fighting me tooth and nail to get his work done. Although, he is over half way done with his math also. At the pace we are going the kids will be done with school in late February or Early March.

We have planted many veggies as part of our science class. The kids are having a ball playing in the dirt several times a week. Now if they just enjoyed weeding.... The seedlings are really taking off. The humid weather we are having this wee, following Fay has ready helped a bunch of them to finally germinate. We are going to have a ton of tomatoes and cukes!!

So, I have decided not to start our History lessons just yet. I think I will start them when we begin classes again after our Holiday break. Although the holiday break will be spent on home ec. and crafting. The kids are really getting into sewing. They absolutely love it. So we are going to be sewing our Christmas presents this year. I would post what we are planning to work on but my family may read this and their gifts would be spoiled!!

So, we are still settling into our groove for homeschooling. I know that once Zach is more comfortable with the new system, it will get easier. But he is my strong willed child and loves to push mommies buttons. So right now he is over at Grandma's working. He listens to her better on the days we aren't seeing eye to eye. Too much of the Mleko blood runs through that child's veins!!! hahaha. No offense family but you all know the Mleko's are a stubborn bunch! Although, the Demers' have that trait down to a science too. Right Poppy Andre? ;-)

Well, I am cooking a ham dinner for Tali's 25th birthday tonight. Its her golden birthday. So I'm off to baste the ham and get started on the green bean casserole. (Yuk!) But its her dinner not mine. hehehe. The things we do for our friends. I love her. I just wont share her veggies!

Have a blessed week all!!